Kristen, a resident of the Next Step Transitional Apartments, shares her story…

Kristen’s childhood memories are not happy. As long a she can remember, she has been exposed to rampant drug and alcohol abuse. She began drinking and using drugs when she was only 12. Despite her environment, Kristen managed to secure a job, a car and a reliable income. These necessities quickly disappeared when she became addicted to heroin. She finally received the help she needed by spending eight months at our Hello House program. She then moved to our Next Step Apartments, subsidized housing for graduates of recovery programs. Kristen is now 32, clean, sober and eager to give back to others struggling with addiction and recovery. She attributes much of her success to the smooth transition from Hello House to Next Step Apartments. As a resident there, Kristen still has access to the important resources and support necessary for her lifelong recovery process. She is also beginning to feel like a mother to her children again. This past Mother’s Day, Kristen accepted cards from her two children, something she didn’t feel she deserved until now. Thanks to Hello House and Next Step, she now has a positive outlook and is anxious to celebrate future holidays with her family and friends.