Janice’s Story

I was at House of Ruth for about 18 months, staying in an apartment in the Freedom Place facility. My son was 14 when we came into the program. We found House of Ruth through the website – I was searching and praying for something to turn around for us.

We had been through a lot of trauma and domestic violence, and had been admitted to a court-operated program. They didn’t have space in a facility at the time, so the courts put us in a hotel in Silver Spring MD, where men were standing around outside and the room was cold and dirty – I didn’t feel safe or good about staying there. We were there for a few days.

I had a job and was still working, we had been going from hotel to hotel when I found House of Ruth. I interviewed with the staff, then I came back with my son and we were interviewed again. When they said we were qualified I was overwhelmed and very happy, and expected to be given a room for my son and I to share.

I wasn’t expecting an apartment. When we walked into a full apartment where we could close the door and have our own space, it was truly a blessing. It was beautifully furnished, and I remember that my son’s room had a picture on the wall that said “Hope.” When he saw that picture, he smiled and said, “Mom, I know this is the right place for us.”

My mom passed away while we were in the program at House of Ruth, and the staff was so generous, understanding and helpful about everything. During that time I had a lot of trouble sleeping, and the midnight staff was my savior. I would go down and talk with her, and she was open and shared too: It was a great friendship.

House of Ruth did so much more than provide me with a safe place to stay. In the 18 months I worked with them, they supported me while I lost my mother and my son was hospitalized for mental issues. They gave me counseling to help with my own mental issues that I had going on at the time, got me grants, and helped me fix my credit. We are now in our own apartment, and House of Ruth helped us with the first month’s rent and the security deposit, as well as furnishings for my new place.

I would tell another woman in my situation do not give up. Forget about your yesterday, learn from your mistakes, press forward and move forward. After the storm, the sunlight shines. I am a woman of faith, and God presented House of Ruth to me. I am a believer and God saw me and my son through. I hope my experience at House of Ruth will open doors for other women to believe in themselves, strive to do more and be more. You may think that programs won’t work, or aren’t for you, but I urge you to try, because you don’t know what the outcome will be.

For me, this was a great program with so many benefits and rewards. Everything and everyone in our experience at House of Ruth Freedom Place was outstanding. The apartment unit was beautiful and bright and nice. Thank you House of Ruth for this program and all the great work put into it. I am very appreciative, blessed and grateful to have been a part of this program.

Olivia*, 45, initially came to the DVSC in a personal crisis as she attempted to separate from a highly verbally abusive long-term intimate partner. After discussing issues related to safety, anxiety, and various community resources with her counselor, Lorena was able to safely separate from her partner and enter a new phase of her life with a renewed feeling of hope. Instead of ending her therapy after her initial goals were met, however, she continued working with her counselor and turned her attention to other aspects of her life. Over time, Lorena came to have a stronger sense of self-esteem and self-worth, and made a number of positive life changes, including advancing her career. Like many other DVSC clients, Lorena was able to achieve both short-and long-term therapy goals as a result of her personal determination and the DVSC’s “no session limit” policy, so long as the therapy continues to be effective.

*Name has been changed.

Two years ago, Nina* and her children left a safe house in another state and moved into House of Ruth’s supportive housing for mothers who have survived domestic violence and their children. Nina took a leap of faith in choosing to come to D.C. Thanks to her bravery and your generosity, she found the support she needed to rebuild her life at House of Ruth.

Nina knows she has come so far, AND that she will go further. She says, “I believe in myself and I can do this for my kids.” Since arriving at House of Ruth, Nina sought out a therapist and began ongoing counseling sessions. She also started school to become a medical assistant, and is now four months away from earning her degree. Her school will assist her in obtaining an externship, and she eagerly anticipates beginning a medical career.

Nina’s children are doing extremely well in school. They are in therapy and getting the help they need, and she is really happy about that. Nina’s oldest daughter remembers the most about their previous life, and for a long time, she hated men. With therapy and distance, she is overcoming that fear and anger. Her case manager has been there to provide encouragement and support to the whole family. Nina says, “My kids love the House of Ruth staff – my case manager has been amazing, and so amazing to my kids. They really love her – they just love hearing her voice.” Nina says, “When I went through a rough patch, I felt like she really felt my pain, and that was amazing.”

Nina’s goals are to finish school, to start a successful career, to obtain housing for her family, and to purchase a car. Our staff is thrilled to support Nina as she makes progress toward reaching these goals. Nina says, “I have gotten much stronger”, and “I feel like I can do anything.”

*Name has been changed.

In 2021, Alma* was accepted into House of Ruth’s FamilySpace housing program. FamilySpace serves mothers who have struggled with substance abuse. Alma lives in her own apartment in the community and receives both income-based rental assistance and case management support from House of Ruth. Alma has gone through difficult times, but thanks to your support, House of Ruth has been here to help her recover.

Alma is in her sixties, and most of her children are already independent adults. Alma is a survivor – a survivor of domestic violence, substance abuse, clinical depression, and loss. Within a period of six months, Alma lost several people she was very close to, including her partner, who died from overdosing. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, Alma experienced challenges with accessing her usual mental healthcare provider and obtaining medication for her depression. With the onslaught of so much overwhelming grief and the triggering of previous trauma, Alma turned to alcohol and drugs to self-medicate.

Two months ago, Alma’s son found her after she overdosed. With the help of Narcan, paramedics were able to save her and bring her to the hospital. Alma expressed that she was ready for further treatment, and her case manager connected her to the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. There she went through a one-week detox process, and she decided to pursue additional treatment. She spent 28 days at an inpatient facility. While there, Alma was able to learn and practice new coping mechanisms. She says she now feels like she has the tools to maintain her sobriety and mental health. She is back on medication for her depression, regularly seeing a therapist, and has connected with Narcotics Anonymous for critical ongoing support.

House of Ruth is supporting Alma as she puts her whole self into healing. Our staff has seen Alma’s energy and outlook change so much – she is healthy, smiling, and feeling really good about her growth. She is embracing the support available to her and wants to stay connected to ensure her continued sobriety and good health.

*Name has been changed