“I thought homelessness would be a never-ending thing for us.”

Instability was the only “stable” part of Angel’s childhood — especially when it came to housing.

She never had consistent living arrangements, whether it was utilities being turned off in her early childhood home or living out of her family’s 1989 Honda Civic with her father and two siblings. For years Angel got used to waking up to a different view each morning — a new rest stop or a different hotel room. It was her reality, and she thought it always would be.

And then, at 21 years old, things got even worse. A speeding driver hit their car — their home — and left Angel, her 7-month-old daughter, siblings, and father on the streets, with injuries they couldn’t take care of for months.

It’s no wonder that Angel said,

I thought homelessness would be a never-ending thing for us.

But through the generosity of people like you, SVdP CARES was able to change that trajectory; it is people like you who show our neighbors that springtime does indeed come after winter.

The hole of homelessness that Angel and so many others find themselves in, through no fault of their own, is simply too big to climb out of. Angel’s family just needed an extra boost.

And that’s what they get at SVdP CARES. For Angel, generous supporters like you gave her the chance for a new beginning. At SVdP CARES Center of Hope family shelter, Angel got the support she needed to build a safe, stable life for herself and her little daughter.

Amidst the warmth of SVdP CARES 10th annual Empty Bowls, Angel, alongside her daughter and Center of Hope manager, Angela, captivated guests with her moving story and remarkable artistic expression as the event’s featured artist. Click above to hear Angel’s story first-hand.

Will you give more vulnerable neighbors like Angel the chance to build happy, healthy, hope-filled lives? Your gift will help people on the streets get into stable housing and stay out of homelessness for good.

Today, Angel is preparing to begin her degree in Creative Writing at college. She’s also working on getting her own apartment and has dreams of being an art teacher one day. It’s her own springtime of hope!

For Angel, a bit of generosity got her out of the rut of homelessness, but that was just the beginning. In finding housing, Angel found the confidence she needed to pursue her dreams and to use her God-given talents — particularly her art, to process the hardships she’s faced — to become who she is called to be. Providing housing may feel like a small contribution to the life of someone who has gone through so much, like Angel, but it truly has a ripple effect that is transformative. Angel says:

Everyone at SVdP CARES has been such a support to me and my daughter . . . I’m working on my independence, and it’s a really good feeling.