Finding Hope: Recovery
 Linda always begins her story this way:
“I came from a good family but I got on the wrong path at an early age. I abused substances for more than 20 years and for 7or 8 years, I was homeless.
"That history does not reflect who I am today.”
Linda continues describing the homeless chapter of her life: “I never went inside; I felt safer outside."
Giving over the care of her 10-month-old daughter to her mother, for many years Linda was estranged from her parents and siblings, and recalls sleeping in cars, abandoned busses, under benches, behind dumpsters, and in parks.
Her life was filled with abusive relationships and frequent trips to emergency rooms for serious infections all substance abuse related.
A final, longer term stay in the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain with an infection that “almost killed me,” she says, also gave her time to think.
From the hospital Linda could see Franklin Park; she remembered relapsing in the park more than once.
It was also during that hospital stay that Linda was introduced to hopeFound’s Project Genesis, a specialized program for homeless women struggling to overcome substance abuse. She listened to what that program offered: a year of support and counseling, a chance at recovery, help with housing, and maybe even employment.
Linda remembers looking out again at Franklin Park and saying to herself, “I can do this!”
Linda committed herself to the Project Genesis year and was encouraged to enroll in hopeFound’s Kitty Dukakis Treatment Center for Women. She entered and completed the program, graduated, and with her commitment to Project Genesis intact, she followed her aftercare plan.
Continuing her recovery, Linda began to working with hopeFound’s Housing Support counselor while an IMPACT Employment Services counselor helped her develop and polish her resume.
Today, Linda’s life looks very different. She is housed and her employer recently promoted her to a more responsible position. She continues her recovery and is working hard at reclaiming her life. She has returned to an old passion performing with local theatrical groups recently appearing as Billie Holiday in The 11th Annual Harlem Renaissance Revisited with a Gospel Flavor.
A bright and charming woman of 50+ years, Linda is reunited with her parents, siblings, and her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
Linda’s daughter and son-in-law are members of the Marine Corps. Her daughter recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. |
