I was homeless through domestic violence, poverty and addiction. When I was homeless, I felt less than a human being. I slept in broken down cars, stairways and parks. I have experienced hopelessness on an unimaginable scale. I remember sitting in a doorway one time, cold, hungry and very alone. I watched people go by me knowing where they were going and had homes to go to, just passing me by. I remember looking at a dog passing me by with its owner and I felt less than an animal. I felt that dog had a home, food and warmth. The dog was more important than me to my fellow human beings. I was very vulnerable and scared especially being a woman homeless. I was in fear constantly of being raped and abused. When I found Daisyhouse it changed my life. I came to Daisyhouse a very broken young women with a lot of trauma. Daisyhouse gave me safety. For the first time in my life, I felt safe. it was a new experience. I then began to grow as a person through encouragement and nurture from the staff at Daisy. I began to experience joy and self- worth. I have a safe place to develop as a person and human being. thanks to Daisyhouse and all the staff I am now in college, achieving my dreams and gaining the ability to stand on my own two feet. The encouragement and nurture is a new language for me from self -loathing and put downs to love and kindness and knowing I’m worth everything as much as the next person is. I have returned to 3rd level education and am now studying to be a social worker. Daisyhouse helped me to remember my childhood dreams which had become trodden on for so many years. I now feel like I am a contributing member of society and am so excited for the future I never believed I could have.
Do you have any success stories to share?
