from surviving to stabilizing: justine is on her way home!

For more than a year, Justine and her children, Luna and Alex, lived in survival mode.

After experiencing domestic violence while living with her children’s father, Justine suddenly found herself navigating life on her own and caring for her children without financial support. When her children’s father encountered legal trouble, the family lost their housing. With no financial resources to cover expenses on her own, Justine, Luna, and Alex were left with nowhere to go. Her family was finally safe from abuse, but Justine now faced the uncertainty and risks of navigating homelessness as a single mother with young children.

For months, they lived in their vehicle, doing everything they could to stay safe and get by. Justine found a job that would allow her to begin supporting her family on her own, but with the high cost of rent and no rental history in her own name, she needed access to housing options that would give her the time and stability to rebuild from square one.

That’s when she connected with the Mary’s Place outreach team at the Allen Family Center.

At the Allen Family Center, Justine was warmly welcomed by a Mary’s Place outreach team member, who provided essential items like clothing, diapers, wipes, food, and hygiene supplies—and even offered her the chance to take a warm shower. Once the family’s immediate needs were met, Luna and Alex explored the large play area while Justine met with staff to discuss her next steps. That same day, she was connected with both a Mary’s Place housing specialist and a domestic violence advocate, leaving the Family Center with a renewed sense of hope and the reassurance that she and her children now had a supportive community to lean on.

With staff support, Justine was referred to a Rapid Rehousing program and began working to secure permanent housing. At the same time, Mary’s Place outreach staff connected her family to a safe shelter located near her workplace—so they no longer had to sleep in their car.

Today, Justine and her children are regulars at the Allen Family Center. They stop in for supplies, participate in playgroups and parent classes, and continue accessing housing and domestic violence support as they move forward. These programs have provided more than just structure to their days—they’ve helped Justine and her children begin to heal from their experiences, supported Alex and Luna in meeting important developmental milestones, and created a sense of community where they feel safe, seen, and supported.

“Thank you for all of the resources you have provided and the clothing and diapers for my children and me; they have been so helpful during this challenging time in my life,” said Justine.

Because of the support of donors and the dedication of Mary’s Place staff, Justine’s family is now safe and on a path toward a new chapter in a stable, permanent home.

Stories like Justine’s are a powerful reminder: when families have access to safety, resources, and community, healing and hope can begin.