Stories of Success
It happens all too often, young people lacking family supports find themselves with nowhere to turn. For over 50 years, we’ve been devoted to these young people, treating them as valued individuals and providing a safe, accepting environment. We build them up, nurture their ability to be part of healthy relationships and help them recover — or discover — their confidence, purpose and value.
Our work is done when they reach for an empowered future. Our mission is accomplished when they achieve a fulfilling life, able to contribute to our community.
These are the stories of individuals who have reached for that empowered future.
Meet Faith
Faith had been striving for a safe place ever since she came to The Relatives. Faith’s mother died when she was young and, as a result, she had to figure a lot out on her own. After time, she found The Relatives and, while we stood by her along her journey, Faith was starting to see some light at the end of her tunnel. Just when Faith was beginning to find stability, she became pregnant. On top of this, she began experiencing escalating incidents of domestic violence. After becoming a mother, she knew she needed a better life for her family.
She found the courage to get out of her situation, but that also meant that she was homeless. After all Faith had worked for, she felt lost and hopeless. She was able to stay in various shelters, but was running out of time. With the weight of our current crisis on top of what she was already going through, Faith was finding it difficult to believe in the promise of tomorrow.
The Relatives was able to move Faith out of her crisis and provide housing for her and her daughter. She found a safe place to call home through our housing program and she is empowered to keep her family safe during this uncertain time. Not only has her basic need of housing been met, but Faith now has the key to provide a better tomorrow for her daughter.
Meet LaJay
If you would’ve asked me five years ago to tell you about myself, I would’ve drawn a blank. I felt lost, unsupported, and was stuck in a cycle of bad decisions.
My story of crisis started when I was just three weeks old. My mother gave full custody to my aunt due to drug addiction. As I grew up, it was hard for me to connect with people. I acted out in school and got involved with the wrong crowd. Eventually, I found myself with nowhere to turn. I slept in parking garages, stairwells, and under bridges.
It wasn’t until I found The Relatives that I truly had a place to land.
If you ask me now to tell you about myself, I would beam with pride knowing that I can say I am the first youth advocate board member for The Relatives. In the five years that I came to The Relatives, they helped me reach potentials that I didn’t even know existed. I’ve discovered my innate worth and have the tools to emerge from crisis with the capacity for a healthy, fulfilling life. And now, I have the privilege of being a voice for my peers.
I am honored to have a part in shaping a sustainable future for not only myself, but all of those that come to The Relatives looking for their second chance.
Meet Darion
Darion is a determined young man who came from a tough home situation. He was raised by his grandmother because his mother was unsuitable to care for him. With her support, he made it to the 5th grade and developed a love for education. But then his grandmother passed away and through the grieving process, Darion started to struggle in school.
He was 16 when he failed his freshman year and was told by a teacher there was no way he would ever move forward. This really broke his heart and it seemed like no one was willing to help him. But at The Relatives, we know there is always a way.
Darion dropped out of school and started to support himself by working a part-time job, but he knew he wanted more for his life. He heard about The Relatives through a friend and met his GED instructor, Ms. Pendle. With Ms. Pendle’s help, Darion began working harder and harder toward his goals.
Just before his 25th birthday, Darion celebrated earning his GED with a graduation ceremony at our Ally Activity Center.
His hard work and perseverance -- after studying nearly 5 years to earn his GED -- has rekindled our GED education program and inspired countless peers to begin working towards earning their GED, too.
Meet Robert
Robert was just two weeks shy of his 18th birthday when he found himself abandoned and homeless.
Before Robert came to The Relatives, he was ready to give up on life. Like many teens who face abuse in the home, Robert craved attention in the wrong places. He ended up serving some time in the juvenile justice system, and when he was released, he returned home to find his house empty. His parents had packed up, left town, and Robert had no idea where they went. He felt completely unloved by his family.
With nowhere to go and no one else in the area to reach out to, Robert ended up sleeping on a bench in Freedom Park. One day, he was walking up East Blvd. and happened to see the Safe Place sign on our youth crisis center.
Robert had heard a presentation in his school about Safe Place and knew what the sign meant. He rang our doorbell and was welcomed with open arms. We met his most basic needs first, making sure that he had a nourishing meal, clean clothes, and a hot shower.
Once Robert was comfortable, we began to talk to him about his situation. We worked quickly with Robert to ensure he would be stable once he left our care and able to transition successfully into adulthood. Today, Robert is working full time and thriving in our community.
Meet Nikita
"I am grateful they gave me the opportunity to do what I needed to do for my kids."
The Relatives gave Nikita her first stable and healthy home in almost 8 years, but more importantly, The Relatives made it possible for her family to be reunited. Like any mother who might face the reality of having their children taken from them, Nikita was desperate to find anyone who could help.
The Salvation Army brought Nikita to The Relatives to enroll in our young adult housing program. She started a job at Bojangles' and moved into her apartment by the middle of the summer. Just in time for Christmas, Nikita was able to regain custody of her boys and bring them home for the holiday. Through the support of the program staff and case managers at The Relatives, Nikita got her feet under her and began walking on a path towards independence.
The Relatives young adult resource center and housing program gave Nikita stability. Stability in her job, stability in housing, and most importantly, stability for her three boys.
