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“As long as I could remember, I’d lived on the streets,” Ashley explains, as she thinks back on her childhood. The nightmare of homelessness was all she knew from when she was a young girl until early adulthood.

Memories of addiction still haunt her, but they also remind her of why she finally found the strength to seek help. “When I found out I was pregnant I knew I had to change. I wanted to be with my daughter, to be able to raise her.”

Desperate for a new start, Ashley went to a rehab program. But after she was finished, she was worried she might have hit a dead end. “I thought I had nowhere to go, and then they told me about Coachella Valley Rescue Mission.”

“They taught me how to love myself so I can better love my baby.”

In the Mission’s Gateway Program, Ashley reconnected with her faith in God for the first time since she was a young girl. “I pray every morning, and when I’m feeling discouraged or lost, I know I can turn to Him.”

She also found the support she needed to start building her future. “They helped me save money and gave me classes for parenting, budgeting and life skills… they really teach you everything.”

And she had help caring for her daughter with diapers, formula and daycare during the hours that she took college courses. Now, Ashley has a vision for her future and a path to get there. “They’ve made it so I can get my degree to be a drug and alcohol counselor in just two years.”

This Christmas, Ashley is experiencing all the joy this season has to offer – because YOU believed in the power of a fresh start and the promise of God’s unending love. “I was so lost and alone before I came to the Mission, but coming here I’ve found peace, I’ve found God’s love and I have hope for the future with my daughter.”

To read our 2024 Holiday issue of A New Dawn, click here.

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Ashley’s story of hope and healing is inspiring. Help us create a safe environment that communicates value and helps people like Kristi start over!