Leslie Has a New Life
Through Hardship, a Dream Comes True
When Leslie heard that the rent on her apartment would be increasing by 65%, she knew it was a sign to start working toward her biggest goal: buying a home of her own.
She moved out and rented a room to save money and pay off debt. Little did she know her newly rented room was part of a fraud scheme and within a few months, she would be evicted and tied up in a court case. At the same time, Leslie abruptly lost her job. Homeless and unemployed, she resorted to sleeping in her car with all of her belongings. Leslie was stunned at the drastic turn her life had taken in just a few short months.
“I was very afraid. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me, but it was very real. I’m a resourceful person, but I was so broken that I couldn’t think straight.” – Leslie
The shock of seeing a man pounding on her car window one morning spurred Leslie to call 211, a health and human services hotline in OC. She was sent a list of resources and the first one on the list was WISEPlace. She called us immediately and was taken into our program that same day. With a safe place to stay and a new support system in place, Leslie found a job within a few weeks of arriving at WISEPlace.
“I worked, saved money, and took advantage of all the services offered at WISEPlace. I also had the chance to socialize with other women and talk to them about their experiences and what we had in common. It was incredibly uplifting.” – Leslie
After three months, Leslie graduated from WISEPlace and found a room to rent from a wonderful woman, and the two became fast friends. Although she loved her new accommodations, Leslie had not given up on her dream. She began applying for jobs in other states where housing was more affordable. She was offered a position in health care and relocated to South Carolina.
With her savings and well-paying job, Leslie qualified to purchase a newly built house! In February 2021, after months of hard work and adversity, she moved into the home of her dreams. As she looks back over her journey the past few years, she is filled with gratitude.
“I couldn’t have done it without YOU. When you’re broken, it’s hard to find or even accept resources. Sometimes the healing has to begin before you can even acknowledge the help. Thank you WISEPlace for believing in me and helping to make my dream come true.” – Leslie
How can you help?
When you support WISEPlace, you provide safe shelter solutions and empowering wrap-around services to unaccompanied women experiencing homelessness. Donate now to provide a caring community for those who call WISEPlace home.
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