As a child, Jasmine was passed from house to house and never felt loved, supported or valued. The 25 year-old mother of five recalls, “I never got the support I needed. I got my first job at 15, and I’ve been on my own ever since.”

Last year, Jasmine was working two jobs to make ends meet and still managed to provide a home for her kids. But when she had difficulties with childcare and couldn’t go to work, she lost both of her jobs. Within weeks, her family was homeless. She asked family and friends if she could live with them. Everyone turned her away.

Eventually, one of Jasmine’s sisters agreed to care for her kids. During that time, Jasmine lived in her truck. After two months, Jasmine realized she could not get back on her feet without help. So she brought her children to Joy House. “Joy House was my only choice,” she says.

“I was overwhelmed,” she recalls. “I needed time to find a job and get more financial stability. I needed the emotional support I never got from those I was closest to. And I needed to get closer to God.”

At Joy House, Jasmine says the love and understanding she received there gave her hope and the strength she needed to put her life back together again. For the first time, she felt she no longer had to do it all alone, that there were caring people who would support her every step of the way.

“It’s still hard,” she says. “But I don’t give up. I just keep going, thanks to God and all the people at Joy House.”