Raina recalls a childhood filled with trauma, neglect, and abuse. Events such as those she experienced in her childhood are "...linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse in adulthood." Additionally, trauma "...can also negatively impact education and job opportunities.” (Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences, CDC)

Raina dropped out of high school during her junior year and moved in with her much older boyfriend. They had a child while Raina was only 17. Raina stayed with the father of her child for little over a year before she moved out and moved in with another man. Raina was misusing substances during this time, and employed seasonally.

The new boyfriend gave her two more children over the course of three years. Without a high school education and with three children at home, Raina struggled to find work. The relationship between Raina and her boyfriend had depleted since the birth of their first child together, and Raina soon discovered that he was no longer interested in living with her or their children.

With almost no money, Raina and her children moved into their van. After two weeks, Raina reached out to her mother for help. Raina's mother allowed Raina to stay with her and watched the children while Raina searched for work. Raina found a server job at a local restaurant and stayed with her mother for a year. 

Raina met a man while working at her job and soon found herself pregnant. Raina's mother asked Raina and her children to leave, and they found themselves without a home once again. This time, they entered Beach House Family Shelter for the first time. At this time, Raina was pregnant with her fourth child and had experienced homelessness twice already.

Raina was given a case manager and worked to find an apartment for her family. After five and a half months at Shelter, she was housed. Raina struggled with living independently and turned back to substance misuse. She also started a relationship with another man and after being together for five months, Raina and her children moved in with him.

This situation was less than ideal. The boyfriend used illegal substances daily, had a temper, and verbally abused Raina and her children. Unfortunately, this led to a visit from Child Protective Services (CPS). This would be the first of many visits until, finally, Raina's children were removed from her care.

Devastated, Raina dealt poorly with the loss of her children. She began using alcohol and illegal substances to cope. Eventually, she found herself homeless once again.

With nothing to her name, Raina called 2-1-1 and entered Beach House Family Shelter for a second time. She entered recovery for substance use, took several parenting classes, and even started working on getting her GED. While at Beach House, she was able to find a better paying job where she excelled. Three months later, she found a new apartment for herself and her children.

Raina has overcome repeated trauma, substance use, depression, chronic homelessness, and having her children taken away. Today, she is well on her way to making a better life for herself and her family.

Once she moved into her new apartment, she started the process for getting her children back, which she eventually did.

Her case manager said, “This Participant is motivated to change. She has overcome so many barriers and challenges to get where she’s at now. She is using these two years to get herself and her children back on track.”

Raina said, "I’m blessed to be where I’m at and to have these opportunities." Her positive outcome includes reunification with children, a promotion at work, and she now works full time.

For our current and future Participants, the need for comprehensive services continues to grow. To meet that need, we have big plans. And big plans call for big dollars. We need your help. Will you partner with us to meet the needs of our community? You can give by PayPal , or by mailing a check to Leading Families Home, 2910 W. Central Avenue, Toledo, Ohio 43606.

Thank you for always being faithful partners in our mission — helping families transition from homelessness to permanent housing. Together we’ve got this.

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