Liz came to Emma’s Place during the most difficult season of her life, but in a time when she needed support more than ever, she found it.
Struggling with addiction and grieving the loss of her mother, Liz stayed with friends and family until she ran out of options.
“I even stayed in the hospital lobby for two days, because I had nowhere else to go. They sent me here (to Emma’s Place).”
When she arrived at Emma’s Place, she’d never been in a shelter before and had no idea what to expect.
“I’d never even seen a shelter before, much less stayed in one,” Liz said. “But from the first day that I arrived here, they supported me like I never expected.”
Wanting to change her life and honour her mother’s memory, Liz detoxed during her first week at Emma’s Place. Through that challenging time, staff were there for her to care for and encourage her.
“I was only able to succeed because of them. They had only known me for a couple days, but their support got me through it.”
Liz has recently started writing again for the first time since before her mother passed, using it as an opportunity to express her thoughts and process the journey she’s been on.
“It helps to put my struggle down on paper. It helps me cope and is a big step in healing.”
Having recently completed Suntrac and been accepted into Mission Services’ Addiction Supportive Housing (ASH) program, Liz will soon move out of Emma’s Place into a geared-to-income apartment. For the first time in years, she will have a place to call her own, and she will begin a new chapter in her life.
“My story’s not finished yet. Not even close.”
