“Life was hard. My children and I were homeless, with nowhere to go.”
Janice is a mother of four—already a challenge without the added burden of homelessness. She had a list of programs to contact, but one by one, they fell through. Only one remained. Through your support, Faith House was able to accept her application. “When they called me, I was overwhelmed with gratitude,” she says. “I truly felt blessed.” But stepping into Faith House came with challenges of its own.
Janice entered the program with her two youngest children while her older two remained in boarding school (on full scholarships). From the start, they appreciated the people and the environment. Still, the structure was difficult for her to accept. “For the first two weeks, I fussed at everybody,” Janice admits. “I didn’t like the rules, and I didn’t want to do what God was asking of me. Even my son struggled—he didn’t like having to wait for the kitchen to open. I complained a lot.”
During a phone call, Janice shared her frustrations with her brother. His response changed her perspective. “He told me to stay and pray. He said, ‘God wants to do a work in you at Faith House.’” So Janice did just that—she began to pray. God showed her that the staff had her best interest at heart.
Her case manager, Tina Cullum, remained steady and patient despite Janice’s frustrations. “I fussed at Tina a lot at the beginning,” Janice says. “But I realized that she has a good heart. She wants every woman at Faith House to succeed. I went to her and apologized.”
As Janice chose to embrace the structure, it led to her freedom and her children’s contentment.
“God had to help me make the change. I was tired of fussing and running, and I was only running from myself.”
What once felt restrictive became a place of peace. “Now when I look back, I’m so thankful for the staff. They’ve been so good to me. After those first two weeks, my children and I fell in love with Faith House.”
Living closely together also deepened Janice’s relationship with her children. With no separation in their daily routines, their bond grew stronger. One day, her children asked, “Mom, when are we going home?” Janice answered simply, “We have no home but this one.”
More than shelter, Faith House became a place of spiritual renewal. “Devotions are my happy place,” Janice shares. “I can always feel the presence of God.” Faith House Director Ashley Garland admires Janice’s lifestyle as a mother and a Christian: “She is a prayer warrior! She’s intentional about raising her children in the Lord and sets a powerful example for the other women here.”
Janice has also found strength in community. “We’re all different, but we share motherhood in common,” she says. “We support each other. Sometimes when I work late, another mom will share her food with my children and me.”
Ten months later, Janice and her children are thriving. She now works two jobs and is preparing for the next chapter of living independently. At Faith House, Janice built community with other mothers and developed valuable life skills. Your partnership made this possible. Because of your generosity, Janice and her children found not only a place to stay—but a place to grow closer to each other and closer to God.
