From Homeless to Hopeful: How Christina Rebuilt Her Life with Home of Hope

There is hope for all of us. While you might need a hand getting there, accomplishment could be just around the corner.

Born in Bronx, New York, Christina moved to the metro Atlanta area in 2004. The now 33 year-old is a mom to a four year-old and graduated from Home of Hope in April of 2024.

While Christina is now well on her way to her dreams, her life’s path has been full of hurdles.

“Before coming to Home of Hope last year, my son and I were in Winder, and I was in a toxic relationship. It put me in a financial bond because [my now-ex and I] were living together at the time,” Christina said. 

“When he left, we were already behind on rent. I tried to explain to my landlord what was going on, but even after taking a second job, I couldn’t catch up with the past payment. That led to my eviction. From there, [my son and I] were just bouncing from home to home. We really didn’t have a place to go, and it was terrifying. 

“It was a terrible feeling having all this stuff going on, and then trying to talk to my child — I just felt like I couldn’t provide for him. That was the worst feeling despite the whole situation.”

Christina wasn’t able to acquire permanent or even semi-permanent housing with family. But one of her sisters discovered Home of Hope and suggested that Christina check it out for herself.

“It was really an emergency,” Christina said, “so my sister found and suggested I look into Home of Hope. The idea [of going to a shelter] didn’t even bother me at first — I just needed to find something. After reading about Home of Hope’s requirements, I was so skeptical, but it seemed like the best option.”

It didn’t take long for Christina’s fears to melt into courage.

“My first phone interview with Ms. Renita gave me a little bit more confidence, just speaking to her,” Christina said. “I told her my story and she was really willing to work with me. I thought ‘This will be a good place to start.’

“When I pulled up, I didn’t know what to expect. I was scared. I was thinking of just a big building where we’d just be sharing cots on the floor with everybody. I was prepared for the worst. 

“But when I got there, I was confused; I honestly thought I was in the wrong place! It didn’t seem like a shelter; it seemed more like a safe haven. I knew we’d found a diamond in the rough. 

“From there, I knew their goal was to help me — not only to help me get back on my feet, but they also had a better vision than mine, and it encouraged me. My first week at Home of Hope was a tough week, but I had a support system set up from the phone interview, before even walking in the door.”

At Home of Hope, Christina was forced to take an honest look at her life. While it wasn’t easy, she was honest with herself and ultimately benefited from it. 

“My last relationship wasn’t my only issue; I also had a huge spending problem,” Christina said. “It wasn’t the first time I’d been in a homeless situation; it was actually my third time. But speaking to Ms. Renita, and my counselor Ms. Ashley, they put a light on my life and actually said, ‘You have a spending problem.’ 

“After breaking down all my expenses in a spreadsheet at Home of Hope — I’d never actually done that before — Ms. Renita looked at it and said, ‘Christina, you’re broke!’ And I just said ‘You’re right; I am.’ It really gave me a better understanding of finances and how to have better management.

“Sometimes you need someone to call you out, but in a caring and supportive way and to give you the resources to fix the problem. They held me accountable for a lot of the issues that I’d known for a while, but was kind of in denial of — things I never really took seriously.”

The relationships Christina formed while at Home of Hope were more than just for help — they were a true support system.

“I didn’t really see her as a case manager — Ms. Ashley became like a big sister to me. Her tough love was never to bring me down, but there were tough truths that had to be said. When people love you, they will tell you what you’re doing wrong to see you succeed, and that’s what her goal was. She always told me that,” Christina said. “They would tell me, ‘I know you’re in a good spot now, but don’t get comfortable. Remember what your goal is. Let’s not stay stagnant; let’s keep on climbing.”

Sometimes, solutions aren’t difficult; they simply haven’t been taught. Finding new ways to express herself, relieve stress and create pathways to her goals has been transformative for Christina.

“I saw how I’d gotten myself into a hole, and they helped me set goals to get out of it. Home of Hope’s program presented so many different methods that I’d never considered using. Mrs. Beatriz and the other great ladies, they brought so much light and education to my life. The things they taught me have changed my life completely,” she said.

“Who would’ve thought something so simple as seeing it all on paper would give you a whole broad perspective on anything? And not just finances; I started doing different practices like writing my thoughts down. I think that’s why reality didn’t hit me as deeply before, but writing it down — my thoughts, my feelings and emotions — helped me get perspective. I like to do art and be creative, but I never saw myself doing scrapbooking — but it’s such a stress reliever for me, even to this day.”

Setting goals for herself — and actually meeting them — has turned out to be one of the most rewarding things for Christina since coming to and graduating from Home of Hope.

“Home of Hope really helped me establish goals, clear goals that I could put on paper, and work toward them versus saying I’d do something but never get it done,” she said. “At 33 years old, after entering Home of Hope’s program was the first time I’d set a goal and actually completed it.

“When I was younger, I would always procrastinate. Even with my drawings, I would get halfway and never finish. There were times it wasn’t always easy to get my goals at Home of Hope done, but they got done, and that was the best feeling in the world. When I wrote something down — a goal that I set that they helped me with — I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I actually did it. I can actually complete something in my life; it’s possible.’

“My first savings goal was to save a thousand dollars by the end of September. I started in July, and I came into it the worst way too — my car was broken, and I had it in the shop to be fixed. But I have a check mark next to that [savings goal].

“My next goals were to keep a thousand dollars in my savings through October, complete all repairs on my car by the end of the year and to pay off my credit card. I was able to get them all done!

“I was so excited because once I saw myself knocking down these goals, I just wanted to set more. I could see the program working, and I wanted it to work for me and my son so we could be in a better spot — that’s eventually what happened.”

More than six months out of Hope of Hope’s program, the lessons Christina learned while at Home of Hope are now habits she implements daily.

“I still write things down, and I have all my books, collages, bills and notes from Home of Hope,” she said. “Financially, I always keep my documents and my receipts so I can hold myself accountable for any type of spending.”

Christina is still setting — and accomplishing — goals today. One of the biggest? To go to college for a Business Administration degree. Not only is she currently enrolled, she’s also making all A’s in her classes.

Her goals have now gone past just survival; they’re also focused on things that spark joy in her heart.

“Before, I was just living day by day, going from house to house. Now I feel more structured; I feel more stable. I feel like I can stand on my own two feet without relying on anybody, and that’s a big deal for me,” she said.

“I have a list of things I want to do on this earth — like going skydiving or visiting Paris and California — and I’m even checking off a lot of those types of goals. I would’ve thought it was impossible coming from where I originally started, but now I can see it in my future.”

The most exciting part? Christina now sees that there’s always room for more growth. 

“I know some people have houses that they own, but even just having my own apartment, a place to stay that I can call my own that I’m taking responsibility for — I went from being literally homeless to this. I can’t wait to see what else I can accomplish in five or 10 years,” she said. “I wouldn’t even have this mindset if it weren’t for Home of Hope. 

“It wasn’t a shelter to me; it was a home that gave me hope for a brighter future — and it was more than I expected.”

Christina wasn’t the only one who found hope and happiness through Home of Hope, so did her son Isaiah.

“What touched me, encouraged me and kept me going the most is that my son never felt any of [the struggle]. Home of Hope really lived up to their name,” she said. “The events, the sponsors, the volunteers — it was more than I ever expected. When they brought Christmas gifts, I was just in tears because they blessed us with so much. 

“They provided a home for Isaiah; even today, he doesn’t know what Home of Hope really is! He made so many good friends, and that meant so much to me. 

“He still plays with the puzzles and things they gave him; it’s a part of his life. Home of Hope has become a part of our family in ways that I don’t know if [the Hope of Hope team] could even see. They’ve become a part of our hearts and my vision, my goals. They changed my life and my son’s life for the better, and I don’t know where we would even be if it weren’t for them.”

Christina’s encouragement to others in a tough spot? 

“You might have messed up today. Even while in the program, I’d slip up and overspend,” she said. “[But at Home of Hope they] said ‘We see your growth. This isn’t the end. You have it in you. Keep going.’ And it helped me tighten up, get more disciplined and keep going,” she said.

“Women go through a lot being mothers and everything that we do — we carry the weight of the world and think it’s normal, but we have so much strength. 

“I think that’s what [Home of Hope has] shown me: a strength that I never thought I had in my life. I started from nothing, and I can stand on my own two feet now. Dealing with life’s issues — they don’t phase me as much now because I have a strategy, a plan and a structure. I don’t need to freak out; I know exactly what to do now.”

Christina is immensely grateful — and hopes to someday be able to give back to the place that made such a difference for her and her son.

“If I ever get in a position where I can be a donor, I will. To current donors, ‘thank you’ just isn’t enough; it doesn’t do you justice. [Home of Hope helped] turn my life around, and I’ll never, ever forget it. I’m just beyond grateful.”