“I’ve built this amazing family of support”

Because of you, Sarah’s found healing through healthy relationships

Sarah’s sobs shook her whole body. The grief she felt was deep. It was a pain that went beyond words, sinking down into her soul.

Sarah’s father had just committed suicide. At the tender age of 12, Sarah couldn’t bear this alone. Mostly, what Sarah needed was a safe shoulder to cry on, but she had none.

Instead, Sarah watched her mother turn to drugs and find solace in addiction…so Sarah did the same. She let drugs silence her pain and allowed her next high to numb the heartache. Yet Sarah’s grief kept calling out.

“My father’s suicide was the trigger for my mental health issues and addiction,” Sarah reveals. “Since the age of 12, I’ve just been trying to numb that pain.”

Tragically, as Sarah continued turning to drugs to cope, she felt more shame. And so the cycle continued. Depression, overwhelming anxiety, and isolation kept Sarah trapped in addiction.

Then, as her trauma went unaddressed, it caused Sarah’s life to spiral out of control. “I quit caring and kept getting high,” Sarah shares. “I stopped paying rent and was homeless for eight months.”

“I’ve built this amazing family of support”

Sarah knew she needed help. But reaching out for help when shame told her to hide felt daunting. “I know what it feels like to want help but not know how to get it. Homelessness is hard. Being aware of why you’re homeless is even harder,” Sarah admits with honesty.

Even though it was truly the hardest thing she’d ever done, once Sarah made the brave choice to step into recovery at Atlanta Mission, it started her on a path to healing and freedom.

“I thank God every day for my counselor and ambassador at Atlanta Mission,” says Sarah. “Priscilla and Sheryl both pushed me to continue on this journey of recovery, even when it felt scary.”

As Sarah took the risk of revealing her true self to the caring people around her, she started to feel safe and accepted. Sarah began to heal on the inside.

Over time, she realized that her past pain didn’t define her. “I used to feel ashamed of who I was. Being part of this community has shown me God’s unconditional love. As a result, I’ve learned to love myself too,” Sarah shares.

Today, Sarah feels a deeper connection to herself and others. She’s able to show up authentically in relationships. Instead of loneliness, Sarah says, “Now, I know I’ll never feel alone, because I have God and I’ve built this amazing family of support.”

When addiction and shame wanted to keep Sarah isolated, your support of Atlanta Mission helped her find healing in healthy relationships with God and others. Thank you!

From Relational Poverty to Connection…

When we think of homelessness, we often envision material poverty – individuals who simply need food and shelter. Yet the majority of men and women who come to Atlanta Mission are also experiencing relational poverty. That means they have little to no trusted relationships they can turn to for help.

The reasons someone can lack healthy relationships include physical or sexual abuse, trauma, drug and alcohol addiction, family conflict, job loss, and incarceration.

That’s where an Atlanta Mission trained staff member—an ambassador—comes in. Once basic needs are met, an ambassador begins to establish trust by creating a safe space for clients to share their story, process their feelings, and overcome obstacles in the pathway to recovery.

As men and women continue on in comprehensive programming, an interdisciplinary team including advocates, social workers, and counselors can begin to address the underlying causes and trauma that led to their homelessness and addiction.

For Sarah—featured in this newsletter—her roots of relational poverty went back to childhood. From her father’s tragic suicide to her mother’s addiction, Sarah felt abandoned and disconnected from those who should’ve cared for her the most.

As her innate need for connection went unmet, it affected Sarah’s mental health. Then Sarah sought to numb her deep desire for closeness through unhealthy outlets like drugs and alcohol.

That’s why Atlanta Mission’s empathetic staff members always aim to build healthy, trusted relationships with clients.

By allowing someone like Sarah to process their pain in an atmosphere of caring compassion, individuals can begin to heal through the transformative power of relationship. They begin to feel loved and worthy of love.

In the course of time, men and women can shift the pattern of relational poverty in their life to one of connectedness within community.

Hope starts with a meal

A meal at Atlanta Mission can be the first step in someone leaving the streets behind to find a new life.

You can welcome neighbors to gather around our table this Thanksgiving and offer them new life through the love of God and restoration with others. This holiday season, hope for healing starts with your gift of meal.

A complete Thanksgiving meal with essential care costs just $3.55.

More people than ever are turning to Atlanta Mission for help. At the same time, giving has slowed significantly. But you can help fill the gap!

Today, a $100,000 Matching Challenge will double your impact, so each $3.55 you give will serve TWO meals with care this Thanksgiving.

Thank you for giving generously today!