One Family’s Journey Out of Homelessness
Sarah Hoover has been a single mom to her two daughters for the past ten years. Six years ago, they moved to Lawrence to be closer to family, hoping for a fresh start. But when that family moved away, Sarah found herself alone, without the support system she had come to rely on. For years, she worked two jobs, pouring herself into her work, trying her best to make ends meet. But the more time she spent working, the less time she had for her girls. The harder things became, the further she felt from the family she was trying to support.In an attempt to ease the burden, Sarah made the difficult decision to downsize from a house to an apartment, thinking it would help reduce costs. But that decision, made with the best of intentions, became the tipping point. An unexpectedly high electric bill left her struggling, and soon, she couldn’t afford both rent and utilities. She tried everything to fix it—calling anyone she could think of for help—but nothing worked. The electricity was cut off, and before long, Sarah had no choice but to leave the apartment.With nowhere to turn, her children became her strength. “They had to basically become little adults for a minute because the situation was out of control,” she says. Her kids and their cats all stayed with a friend’s grandmother, while Sarah moved from couch to couch, trying to find a place to stay. Eventually, she had nowhere else to go and ended up living in her car. The family dog went temporarily to the humane society until the family could find a stable place to live.

Not being there for her kids during big moments was one of the hardest things Sarah had to face. She missed the start of her daughter’s freshman year and the start of senior year for her oldest daughter. The pain of not being able to be there when they needed her most weighed heavily on her heart.

Then, it was recommended that Sarah go to the Treatment and Recovery Center (TRC) in Lawrence. She wasn’t sure what to expect, but that’s when things began to change. At first, she didn’t recognize her situation as a mental health crisis—just a housing crisis. But after spending some time at TRC, she realized how much had been falling apart. She had fought so hard to prevent things from reaching this point, but the weight of it all had become too much to carry alone.

The staff at TRC gave Sarah something she had lost—hope. “It’s really life-altering once you experience not having any place,” she says softly. She feels lucky they were able to afford a storage unit to keep their belongings. It might seem small, but to Sarah, it meant everything. She didn’t have to lose everything they had. The people at TRC showed her kindness and compassion, and with their help, she began to see a way forward. “If it’s not for caring, kind people within the system, nothing would ever happen,” she says, her voice filled with gratitude.

After months of struggle, Sarah was finally connected with Misty, the Director of the City of Lawrence Homeless Solutions Division and head of the Homeless Response Team, who linked her with the Tenants to Homeowners program. Today, Sarah and her family are in a stable, income-based rental home. The rent is affordable, and every detail of the place feels warm, thoughtful, and cared for. “Here, you can tell that everything was designed and built with love, thought, and consideration. And it’s maintained that way,” Sarah says.

When Sarah and her daughters walked into their new home, it felt like a miracle. “It has restored my sense of dignity as a mom,” she says, her voice filled with emotion. “It means the world to me and my kids, because everything is for them.” After months of uncertainty, pain, and struggle, Sarah can finally give her children the stability they deserve—a home where they can feel safe, loved, and secure.

Sarah’s journey has been one of unimaginable hardship, but it is also a story of hope. She wants others to understand how fragile stability can be, and how quickly life can change. “I never thought I’d be homeless, and now I’m like, ‘Oh, anyone can be homeless,’” she says, her words filled with both humility and truth. She hopes that people will show more kindness, understanding, and compassion for others, remembering that so many are just one paycheck away from losing everything.

Her story is a powerful reminder that it’s the smallest acts of kindness that can make the biggest difference. Thanks to the support of caring individuals and programs like TRC, the Homeless Response Team, and Tenants to Homeowners, Sarah and her family have found a new chapter in their lives—one filled with the warmth, love, and stability of a place they can finally call their own.

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