Before CATCH
Before finding CATCH, LaRita was fleeing domestic violence from her partner. Multiple failed attempts to escape left her feeling hopeless, as she believed he would always find her. To cope with the violence, she began using drugs, which eventually led to an addiction to fentanyl and heroin. During this period, LaRita became homeless, avoiding shelters out of fear that her partner would find her. She slept in her car and, when that wasn’t an option, outdoors by the river, enduring both the harsh summer heat and bitter cold.
“I felt a temporary piece of happiness with the drugs, even though it wasn’t real,” LaRita shared. Her addiction isolated her from her family, with the exception of her mother, who took in LaRita’s daughter. LaRita’s days became a cycle of chasing drugs and trying to survive homelessness, all while working temporary jobs like at Amazon, but sinking further into hopelessness.
Her turning point came when a friend, after witnessing her breakdown during a police cleanup, told her about CATCH. He insisted, “You don’t deserve to be on the streets. CATCH can help you.” Hesitant at first, LaRita visited the CATCH office to get some water and hygiene products. A week later, she returned to sign up for their services. Around that same time, she received heartbreaking news that her daughter’s father had died from a fentanyl overdose. Breaking this news to her daughter solidified LaRita’s decision to turn her life around. “I knew I was done after that. I didn’t want anyone to have to tell my daughter that her mom had died from an overdose.”
LaRita has been sober since November 23, 2022, a milestone that coincided with receiving a phone call from CATCH about being paired with a caseworker—a sign, she felt, that she was on the right path.
During CATCH
Amanda, LaRita’s caseworker at CATCH, recalls the first time they met. “LaRita was bouncing between the streets and shelters at that point. She was scrappy in the best way—determined and motivated. She showed up to every meeting, ready to put in the work.”
LaRita’s first goal was to regain custody of her daughter. To do so, she needed stable housing and a steady job. During a nerve-wracking job interview at Rite Aid, LaRita laid her truth on the table. “I told him everything. I told him I was homeless, a recovering drug addict, and needed a second chance. I promised that if he gave me that chance, he wouldn’t regret it.” Two weeks later, she got the job.
With employment secured, LaRita and Amanda worked through the challenges of her housing application, overcoming barriers from her past experiences. After months of effort, LaRita received the keys to her new apartment on July 5, 2023. Amanda remembers that moment vividly: “When I handed her those keys, you could feel the weight lift off her shoulders.”
LaRita’s new apartment is just blocks away from her daughter’s school. After settling in, LaRita set to work on creating the perfect bedroom for her daughter. A community group even stepped in to help, designing a unicorn-themed room—a dream come true for her daughter. “From the moment she stepped foot in our new home, she never wanted to leave,” LaRita said.
After CATCH
Today, LaRita and her daughter are healthy, stably housed, and thriving. LaRita has graduated, purchased a car, and is on track for a promotion at work. Her daughter just completed third grade as one of the top students in her class and loves hosting slumber parties in their new home. Together, they enjoy swimming, visiting the park, playing with their new puppy, and doing arts and crafts. For their first Christmas in their new home, they even built a fireplace and chimney out of cardboard boxes so Santa could visit.
“Home is more than just a roof over your head,” LaRita said. “It’s a place filled with laughter, safety, and where you can be yourself.”
Reflecting on her journey, LaRita says, “CATCH gave me the self-confidence I have today. They’ve given me and many others a second chance at life.”
Three Years after being housed with CATCH
LaRita and her daughter are still living in the apartment CATCH helped them secure. LaRita is currently finishing up her GED and planning to start cosmetology school in the spring, a passion she discovered after cutting and dyeing friends hair for years. She’s celebrating three years of sobriety and shares that she’s been saving up and attending budgeting classes so she can apply for a home loan in the future. Her daughter is in fifth grade now, and has been excelling in school. She enjoys playing sports and spending time with her friends.
“I’m very proud of the little girl that she’s grown up to be,” LaRita shares. “And watching her bloom and become this young lady is just amazing to be a part of.”
LaRita likes to crochet in her spare time. She makes hats and scarves to donate to people experiencing homelessness because she remembers how cold it can get. LaRita experienced some serious injuries due to a workplace accident and car accident within the past year. She says her daughter motivated her during those setbacks, and the memory of experiencing homelessness kept her moving forward. She shares that her former caseworker, Amanda’s, advice was a north star for her during this time, reminding her to take it one step at a time. She shares that she experienced an especially significant moment in the aftermath of her accidents when she didn’t relapse, instead focusing on finding a new job and getting better, even refusing pain medication.
“It was like a look in the mirror type of moment,” she shares. “Who is this lady? But I love this lady. I love who I am becoming. I just feel so much better as a person.”
With the stability of their own home, LaRita and her daughter are thriving. She shares that every time she turns the key to her apartment, she remembers the first time she opened the door.
Reflecting on how much has changed in the last three years since being housed with the support of CATCH, LaRita shares, “Life just seems to make sense now.”