Nia’s Story

Nia never expected to experience homelessness, much less face homelessness in the midst of a pandemic. Before coming to Atlanta Mission, Nia and her husband lived in an apartment in South Carolina with their three children. Her husband was having trouble supporting their family, so they decided to move to Atlanta, where they believed there would be more opportunities. 

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to find a stable job, and they found themselves with nowhere to sleep at night. They made the difficult decision to stay in different shelters. “It was hard,” Nia explains, “but it was what was best for the kids.” 

Nia and her three children came to Atlanta Mission right before the pandemic hit. Nia was in survival mode. “I just wanted to make sure my kids were safe and taken care of.” She felt a tremendous sense of relief when they received beds for the night.

During the pandemic, her children have been attending virtual school at My Sister’s House, and she has been taking part in classes, such as resume building, Bible studies, and meeting with a social worker. “It was difficult to stay inside all the time during the COVID-19 lockdown, but we knew we were in the safest place we could be,” says Nia. “Being here, I’ve learned to have some patience, because I didn’t have any before. I learned to be calm. It’s about growth. I think this has been a learning time for me.” Her son was having some behavioral issues, and with the help of her Ambassador, she was able to get him in therapy. 

“I know my kids and I are growing. We’re becoming closer as a family than we ever were before. I’m looking forward to reuniting with my husband and getting our very own place to live.”

Nia has been building relationships and trust with staff members as she prepares to enter Make Progress. She has hope for the future.

Thank you for being part of Nia and her family’s story! Because of our generous supporters, Nia and her family have a place to call home.

To read more stories of transformation like Nia’s, click here.