Before CATCH
In late 2021, Regina moved to the Treasure Valley with her husband, son Emilio, and her mother. Drawn to the area by the promise of better opportunities and the support of her husband’s family, they planned to stay with his relatives temporarily while they got back on their feet.
However, the arrangement fell apart, leaving the family without a place to stay. “Eventually, they kicked us out,” Regina says. The family had nowhere to go and ended up living in their car.
“There were four of us—my husband, my son, my mom, and me—along with our two pets,” she recalls. “We had no food, no showers, and none of the basic things you take for granted. I didn’t even really know how to be homeless. I didn’t know how to survive.”
Despite the hardship, Regina never stopped trying to rebuild her life. With a background in dental assisting and a drive to provide stability for her family, she sought help wherever she could. Her son’s school provided temporary housing in a hotel, but when the vouchers ran out, the family moved into a trailer on someone’s property. While it was more spacious than the car, it had no running water or electricity.
Her persistence eventually led her to CATCH, a turning point in her journey.
During CATCH
“I remember getting the call from CATCH, and I felt like my prayers had been answered,” Regina recalls. “I knew things would get better, and I just had to hang on a little longer.”
CATCH provided Regina with more than just housing—it gave her a supportive network and a path forward. Her case managers, Madison and Amanda, became trusted allies who treated her with compassion and understanding.
“They didn’t look at me the way other people did,” she shares. “It felt like having a friend who was supportive and encouraging. I hadn’t had that in a long time.”
With their help, Regina focused on completing the steps needed to regain stability and secure housing for her family. Her determination paid off. She moved into an apartment where she and her family could finally feel safe.
“The day I got the keys, I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders,” Regina says. “I didn’t have to worry about how we were going to eat or where we were going to sleep. My prayers had been answered again.”
After CATCH
Nearly four years later, Regina and Emilio are thriving. Emilio excels in both academics and sports, winning state championships in wrestling and football. His success has even drawn the attention of recruiters, and Regina dreams of supporting him in his collegiate athletic journey.
For Regina, stability has also meant pursuing her own goals. She is now working toward becoming an ultrasound technician, showing resilience and determination every step of the way.
“Everything I have in my life right now is what it was meant to be after such a hardship,” she says. “This is the sun after the storm.”
Regina hopes her story inspires others to offer kindness and support to those experiencing homelessness. “You never know what someone is going through or what they’ve had to endure,” she says. “Don’t judge a book by its cover—you don’t know the chapters it took to write that story.”
Today, Regina is focused on paying it forward. Whether by showing compassion to neighbors in need or sharing her story, she continues to make a difference, proving that with support, hope, and determination, brighter days are always ahead.