A military veteran who dedicated a decade of service to her country, Shelly’s battle scars were not only the PTSD from her service but also domestic violence and houselessness she experienced. Her transformational journey began at House of Ruth’s Madison Program, which offers transitional housing for single women experiencing houselessness.
With the support of House of Ruth, Shelly secured a full-time administrative job, enabling her to move into “A New Start”—one of our Scattered Site programs that provide domestic violence survivors with their own apartment in the community. This service-enriched housing program also provides income-based rental assistance and comprehensive support services.
Since her arrival, Shelly has embraced numerous opportunities for growth. She has gained financial literacy—learning to budget and save diligently—through our empowerment trainings. Most importantly, Shelly has begun to heal emotionally through therapy at the Domestic Violence Support Center (DVSC), a no-cost counseling service available to anyone residing in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, regardless of gender, who has experienced domestic violence. Initially hesitant, Shelly found therapy to be a profound source of strength—transforming her initial skepticism into a powerful advocacy for her own well-being.
With both financial literacy and counseling, Shelly has prioritized her financial independence. She has already met her first milestone—purchasing her own car! Shelly’s next milestone…independent homeownership.
As Shelly makes strides towards these milestones, House of Ruth continues to support her success. Shelly’s job doesn’t provide full healthcare benefits, making it difficult to afford critical medication. House of Ruth has adjusted her rental assistance, ensuring she can manage her health needs while working towards financial independence. As long as Shelly participates in our programs, she continues to have access to the full array of no-cost services House of Ruth provides to the participants.
You and your generous support of House of Ruth makes Shelly’s transformative journey possible. Because of you, House of Ruth provides so much more than housing—together we provide the holistic services these women, children, and families deserve and need to find their path to independence.
*Name has been changed.
To get more stories like Shelly’s straight to your inbox sign up for our newsletter!
