At age 18, Deborah was kicked out of her home by her mother. She lived on the streets of downtown Atlanta, where she met her husband. They worked together to become more stable and could see a brighter future lying just ahead.
When Deborah was pregnant, her husband became abusive. After giving birth to their daughter, she started a years-long journey to gather the strength and courage to leave. Finally, she escaped-but her freedom from violence came at a cost. She and her daughter were left without a place to live.
Fortunately, Deborah and her daughter found Nicholas House, which provided them with the safety and stability they needed for Deborah to start divorce proceedings, get a job and make plans for a career that will allow her to provide for her family long-term. Classes on nutrition have helped her to plan healthy meals for her daughter and enrolling in a karate class has built her confidence.
Today, Deborah and her daughter have lived 5 months free from abuse and are in an apartment of their own. Deborah has plans to get her driver’s license with the goal of becoming a professional bus driver. Speaking about her journey, Deborah says: “I have the freedom to embrace who I really am… my daughter is really happy. She’s excited to have a home now.”
Deborah’s resiliency reminds us of the strength of so many of the parents in our programs-and the power of a mother’s love. We are so excited to hear about the next chapter in her family’s life.