Tonya's Amazing Story of Hope

Tonya and Homeless Women with Children Like Her have HOPE for a Better Future.
“It’s amazing here,” Tonya said of City Mission. “I tell a lot of people about this place.” Tonya and her daughter Jariyah,4, moved into the Women with Children Shelter in December of last year. When Tonya, who is originally from Brownsville, finished her program at the halfway house where she was living for six months, she didn’t really want to come to City Mission. She wanted to hurry up and get on with her life and reunite with her two sons who have been living with their Dad for the past three years. But she had nowhere to go except back to her hometown.
If I didn’t come here after the halfway house, I can’t say I’d be clean to this day,” she said, looking back on that time. “I would have had to go back to my hometown, and that would not be a good idea. I would have gone back to my old ways. I might not even be alive today. This place definitely saves a lot of lives."
When she first came to City Mission’s Women with Children Shelter, she was surprised by the facility. “This is not what I had in mind when I thought of a homeless shelter. Not at all. It’s like staying in a hotel. The apartments are perfect. You couldn’t ask for something better.”
She arrived at City Mission shortly before Christmas of last year. “Christmas was amazing,” she said. “All the kids got lots of stuff. The Mission not only got gifts for my daughter but for both of my sons as well.” Her sons, ages 13 and 11, still live with their father. “The Mission goes above and beyond for Christmas,” she continued. “But they go above and beyond all year. My daughter had an amazing Birthday. They bought her a present. They made sure all the kids had school clothes. They definitely don’t let the kids go without.”
In November, after six months in a halfway house and nearly a year at City Mission, Tonya will be moving into her own home in Washington, where she will finally be reunited with all three of her kids. "It took me 18 months to get where I wanted to be. Your patience is tested a lot,” she said. “It’s not easy at all, but it’s well worth it. Every day is worth it."
Tonya came a long way during her time at the Mission. She was able to strengthen in her recovery, build stronger relationships, find better employment, purchase a vehicle, and finally get a place of her own for her and her family. She also plans to study nursing and pursue an LPN degree beginning next year.
When Tonya moves out, she is going to miss hanging out with the other ladies just laughing and joking around. “When we leave, Jariyah is going to want to come back every day. She likes it here. She likes making new friends. She loves people. There’s nothing that she dislikes about this place.”
Because of YOU, Tonya and homeless women with children like her have HOPE for a better future.