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Debbye Finally Comes To The Mission After God Guides Her Time And Time Again
Debbye grew up in South Central L.A. “I feel like the moral values I grew up with were different than what the other kids had. My mom was strict about things. We lived pretty comfortable. We didn’t have much. It was all my mom could afford,” Debbye recalls. Her dad was never involved in her…
Brenda Rebounds From Her ‘Lowest’ After Seeking Help From The Mission
Brenda has been through some tough times in her life. But in the middle of 2019, she hit rock bottom. Brenda worked as a server for 35 years, the last 17 primarily in the San Fernando Valley. She was working six days a week to provide for her 13-year-old son and 21-year-old pregnant daughter. Things…
Maria’s Family Forced to Leave Cramped Apartment, Can Finally Stretch Their Legs
Maria grew up in a small town in Honduras. “My mother gave me up to my grandmother and my grandmother raised me.” Maria moved to the U.S. when she was 27 years old and has been living here for the past 13 years. She was getting by working as a dishwasher and preparing food at…
Fear And Abuse Are Replaced By Peace And Caring
Nicole was living in Las Vegas with her two young daughters, Kenzie and Kayla, while working at a daycare as the lead teacher for the 18 month to 2-year-old class. She had broken up with her daughter’s father before she was born, ending what she would describe as a “toxic relationship.” In February of this…
Teresa is well acquainted with tragedy and grief, but perseveres at the mission
Teresa was born in Mexico into a large family. Her mother struggled to raise her and her 9 siblings. Two of her siblings have since passed away. Tragedy struck Teresa at an early age. “At four years old I was raped. I can’t share who it was, but it was someone who was a part…
Marshelle and her family begin to feel hopeful again
Ten years ago, Marshelle and husband Doug were both working, raising their young daughter and two sons, and renting an apartment in the Valley. But when Marshelle, who has a degree in child development, started noticing her sons weren’t reaching some milestones, she became concerned. “They don’t use the ‘autistic’ label that young, but we…
Mirella Gets back on her Feet at ‘Safe’ and ‘Peaceful’ Mission
Mirella grew up in the Valley, finished high school and started community college with hopes of studying architecture. But when her dad got sick, her world changed. “Everything went downhill,” she said. “I was working and going to school full time, but after my dad passed away, I needed to work full time to help…
Craving Stability, April Squashes Addiction And Moves Into The Mission
April is honest about the challenges she faced growing up. “My mom was on welfare and we were in Section 8 housing,” she said. “My dad worked under the table, and my mom, I never really saw her have a job. There were drugs and alcohol within both of my parents. The situation was low…
Family Gets Back On Its Feet, Finds Housing After Mission Stay
Janeth and Sergio lived together with their kids—her 13-year-old and his 7- and 11-year-olds—in Canoga Park. Sergio worked as an electrician and Janeth held down both a retail and restaurant job. But a freak incident led to a major derailment of their living situation. Sergio’s daughter, who was 10 at the time, told her dad…
Y’vonne Says Mission Has Been ‘A Blessing’ For Her Family
Y’vonne has a good job and despite having five children to look after, has been able to provide for her family. It was hard for her to ask for help when her situation turned dire, but she’s now glad she did. “I was raised in the city of San Fernando by a single father—an alcoholic…
Suzette And Her Daughters Settle In After Partner’s Death
Suzette and her partner lived in a two-bedroom apartment with their two daughters. But when the couple separated, Suzette was forced to downsize, hoping her salary as an accounting assistant would be adequate. “It was more affordable, but it was still hard to maintain the rent on my own,” she said. “I fell behind on…
Jenika Recovers From Job Loss And Son’s Early Birth At The Mission
“From the beginning, I don’t think I had much stability,” said Jenika, reflecting on her childhood. “I didn’t have a foundation.” Jenika’s father was a 33-year-old musician who had moved to LA from Michigan when he met Jenika’s mom, 23 and a model. “She had a very horrible upbringing. They were both broken people. They…
