Alicia’s Story
My name is Alicia (Ali) Garza. I am a small Business Director, single mother of 2 beautiful teenagers, and former resident of Perpetual Help Home.
This path started in 2015. I was addicted to various street substances and raising my children under broken mindsets. Using a water hose from the neighbor’s house at our house was a normal thing we did every other month when the bills came due. Staying at the neighbor’s house for a few nights a month was a normal occurrence.
I came to Perpetual in May 2015 after a jail stay for driving while intoxicated with my children in the car. I chose to drive my children to school on a Monday morning after a long weekend. I had to serve 30 days in the county jail and 5 years of probation to follow. If I had just one violation int that time, I would have had to serve 18 months in a State Facility. It seemed hopeless at the time. After being released from the 30 day stay, I was evicted, my children went to live with their father’s mother, and I was basically couch hopping with our belongings in a 2004 Ford expedition that broke down on a dime. The registration and inspection stickers were outdated, and my license was suspended. I was buying my time before I was incarcerated permanently. I desired to get my children back with me, but I had no safe place for them. Not understanding that my choices led me to these consequences I was so depressed. That was when Perpetual opened their doors to me.
My main goal for staying at Perpetual was to be in a safe place while I tried to get things back on track. I had no idea what God had planned.
While working part-time at PHH's "Center for Peace" and a short time at Ashley Furniture’s business office I was able to personally fund my first semester of 2 basic classes. PHH helped me by giving me a safe place to lay my head to allow God to intervene and give me healing from addictions, hurts and old habits that were a leading me down a destructive path for my children and myself.
Now! I am a director/CEO of Ali BOSS LLC, a bookkeeping and back-office support business I founded and funded myself through tears, hard work, and a Kingdom mindset. I have attained my associate degree from Colorado Christian University in Business Science and Bible Studies. I raise my 2 wonderful children with a healthy and healed mindset. I also facilitate Bible studies throughout the community, at PHH, and host community retreats where present residents of PHH are always invited.
NEXT, I plan to grow the business to be at a place to hire current residents of PHH full- time and train them to solicit their own clients and own a stake in the business. Once my children are out of the house living their own healthy lives I would like to be the Director of PHH, a similar program, or start a housing community like Perpetual Help Home of my own.
Chelsea’s Story
Hello everyone! Today I am happily smiling and joyful because I have overcome so much.
I fell in to a deep depression after losing my job as a police officer and after that I found myself lost in addiction. I slowly started losing everything, including my family. My daughter went to live with her dad, and that threw me over the edge. I would spend the next few years deep in addiction and bouncing from one toxic relationship to another. But, on December 7, 2019, I decided it was time for a change, and I put the drugs down.
I came to Perpetual Help Home in May of 2019 and immediately started working on myself. I had just left my latest toxic relationship and came to Perpetual with the hopes of getting my independence back. My goals were to stay sober and to become someone that my children could be proud of again.
I was able to regain my relationship with God and my mother (who is now my best friend and #1 fan!) and Perpetual worked with me to make sure I was able to pick up my daughter as often as possible. I was able to enroll back in college and have been working towards my degree ever since.
Today, I have my own house and an amazing job as a victim's advocate for a local nonprofit. I am just a few months away from being a college graduate! Also, my daughter will be moving back with me for good soon. I could not have started this amazing journey without the help from the staff at Perpetual. PHH will give you a nice place to lay your head but you immediately start working on you- There is no time for self-pity. Once I arrived at PHH, it was nothing but progress and support. When I left Perpetual I had money saved, I had my self-esteem back, and I loved myself again.
I will graduate college with my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology in March 2022. I already have an amazing job, and will continue to help people who are going through tough times. Hopefully I can help my clients gain the strength they need to overcome and succeed just like the amazing ladies at Perpetual did for me.
Julia’s Story
Hi there! Today I am rejoicing because Jesus saved me from my past.
I have been through some dark days which included codependency, drug abuse, over- reacting, and harboring bitterness and resentment.
I came to Perpetual Help Home in 2019 with the goals of getting a job and learning how to be independent. I followed the program at PHH and did what was asked of me.
Today I love myself and my life! I am truly blessed by what the Lord has done in completely restoring my relationship with Him and also with my family. I have a wonderful boyfriend who is truly a gift from the Lord (soon we will be getting married!) and a wonderful relationship with my daughter. For the first time I feel complete and that I’m no longer in a place of brokenness. I also have a job that I love which is the first stable job I have ever held.
Perpetual Help Home helped me by giving me tools on how to spend and save, leading me to a local church home, and teaching me how to rely on myself and not on others. Another amazing part of Perpetual Help Home is that they help teach women the importance of sticking to something— that can include Bible study, attending church, or just the importance of holding a stable job. It was the wakeup call I needed for sure!