SUCCESS STORIES
2020 ANEW Living celebrated another year with an 80% Success Rate in ending our clients’ cycle of homelessness as they moved into permanent housing after completing our program
Sarah J.
I first came to ANEW Living in 2017. After 8 months, I found a new place to live but a few months later, found that I had bit off more than I could chew and was forced to move back with my mother-in-law. My husband was in prison so we lived solely on my income.
In October of last year, my son who I had lost custody of, was put on a plane and sent to live with me. He was out of control and his foster parents thought living with me might help with his mental and anger issues. In March my husband got out of prison and things got worse -my relationship with my mother–in-law and my husband soon became strained. My home life became so bad I found myself staying at work just to avoid the fighting and the mental abuse at home. I never saw my kids and my son’s behaviors started getting worse.
In June, I packed up my car with our clothes and some necessities. My kids and I were homeless once again. I tried to find a motel but earning only $400 a week I knew we would soon be on the streets again. Bawling, I pulled into a gas station and the only thing I could think of doing was to call Lori at ANEW Living hoping there wasn’t a waiting list. There weren’t any rooms available but Lori was holding one for someone who had not yet moved in and Lori told me I could stay there for a week to figure things out. A couple of weeks later, another family moved out and Lori gave me their unit.
Words cannot explain how grateful I am to Lori and ANEW Living. Recently, I was able to get a loan from my boss towards the deposit for a 4 bedroom house. We have moved in and life is amazing. If it wasn't ANEW Living, I don't know where we would be. This program has saved me, not just once but twice. Thank you so much Lori and ANEW for everything you have done for me and my family.
Alan
Several years ago, Alan battled with a drug addiction. Recently he celebrated 4 years of sobriety. Alan started a small appliance repair business supporting area hotels and motel's laundry facilities. Alan came to ANEW Living with a focus and determination to continue his efforts to create a better life by staying sober, saving money, and making better life choices. Alan recently was able to purchase a small trailer through conventional financing and is now celebrating home (trailer) ownership. Alan is our first resident who has purchased their own living space.
Kevin & June
Both in their late 50s, Kevin and June experienced housing insecurities most of their adult lives due to alcohol addiction. In early 2016, Kevin voluntarily checked into Flagstaff’s Guidance Center’s detox and rehab program and June went to live at Hope Cottage. In October, Kevin and June moved into ANEW Living - a big step for Kevin as ANEW Living clients are required to be sober and working. They started attending the mandatory finance classes and at the June 2017 finance class, they focused on setting goals and created a Dream/Vision Board. Kevin and June left this class inspired to once again have hope and believe in their future. They opened a savings account for the very first time in their lives. Now that they both had jobs, they made a commitment to themselves to save every spare penny they had. In December 2017, they experienced a setback when their vehicle broke down and cost $2800 to repair. In the past, this would have been crippling. But this time, because of their disciplined savings, they had the funds to fix the car.
Kevin and June continued to work on their goal of finding a home of their own with a big kitchen located near a lake so Kevin could fish (all elements of their Vision Board ☺). In April of 2018, Kevin and June moved out of ANEW Living with $10,000 in their savings account! They chose to relocate to Utah where the cost of living is more affordable. After their success at ANEW Living, they are now fully committed to setting new goals and have dreams of buying a home one day. Kevin proudly states he has achieved everything on their Vision Board and recently used cash from their savings to purchase a car for June.