Monica was homeless and struggling with addiction. She had spent some time in different shelters before but hadn’t found the tools she needed to improve her life. “I was an addict and I had lost everything,” Monica said. Her options of places to stay and people to spend time with didn’t help. She needed stability. Then, she met Captain Jerry Casey and found the help she needed at The Salvation Army shelter. “It’s more than just a place to stay,” Monica said.

With the stability she found at The Salvation Army shelter, and with the continuing help of Captain Casey, Monica is making progress in her journey. She’s still working on it, but she is not walking this path alone. “He and I will sit down to talk from time to time. He will see how I am and where I’m going, and he will see if I have any other options like AA or other treatment programs,” she says, referring to Captain Casey.

Monica says her journey was made easier during her time at the shelter. “It’s really safe and comfortable,” she said. Meals are available every morning and evening, and the opportunity for emotional and spiritual care is also available. Monica describes the shelter as a community. She says Captain Casey is, “a really fair man, really good to his clients. If I need anything, he’ll go out of his way to help out.”

Now living in her own place, Monica enjoys returning to the shelter as a volunteer—giving back to the community that helped her so much. And she’s confident knowing that the community support she found is still there for her.