The last trauma I could take was finding my sister in her home where she had passed away. I had been evicted from my apartment and abandoned by my husband and children. I was homeless and broken. It was like I woke up one morning and I had nothing — just the clothes on my back.

I spent nearly 12 years trying to figure out why my world was so broken. I didn’t know anything about living on the street, but that’s where I lived for the next four years. I was used, bullied, taken advantage of, and robbed. Then I met someone and spent the next eight years being horribly neglected by him.

Finally, I was able to get some help for myself. It took another four years to get myself right enough to be able to go out on my own.

Today, thanks to the Mission, I am living independently with my dog Boss Hogg. Slowly, but surely, I am becoming stronger each day. This would not have been possible without the help of the Merced Rescue Mission. Thank you and hats off to Jennifer Carr and the Navigation Center staff.