Making A Difference That Matters
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Victories to Celebrate.
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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…
Natalie Breaks Homeless Cycle, Joins Air Force
At just 19, Natalie has already been homeless off and on for five years. “I’ve had a different living situation every three months for several years,” she said. Natalie grew up in Santa Monica with her parents and two sisters. After her father lost his job, Natalie’s family became homeless, and she and her sisters…
Cindi Reflects On ‘Life-Changing’ Time At The Mission
A year and a half after leaving the mission, Cindi and her daughters are firmly planted in their new life. “It is such a good program,” she said. “They did so much for us. It was truly life changing.” Cindi grew up in the Valley with her mom and brother. “My dad wasn’t really a…
Richard and Parrie Move on From the Mission
When we last talked to Richard and Parrie in August, they had a lot on their plates. Their new baby Zion was barely 1 month old. The pregnancy had been a blessing to the couple, who didn’t think they could conceive and had started preparing to adopt. It was also a challenging several months, as…
Family Gets A Roof Over Its Head, Plans For The Future
Crystal and Antwon’s family suffered a tragic blow in 2016 when their son was murdered. “That was really hard for us,” Crystal said. “He was 22. Where we’re from in St. Louis, Missouri, it’s gotten pretty dangerous, as far as gun violence goes. So that took a huge toll on us. And from there we…
Cindy gets back on her feet, reconnects with God
Cindy has been on her own since she was 18, and had a daughter, Josie, at 21. When their landlord wanted his rental back, Cindy and Josie, now 11, found themselves with just a month to find a new home. “It just wasn’t enough time to find a place,” Cindy said. “My credit wasn’t good…
