For 30 years, Senseera fought a silent battle. She struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol, unknowingly using them to self-medicate the deep pain she was carrying. Alongside her addiction, she was living with untreated bipolar disorder and PTSD, compounding her challenges and pushing her further into isolation.
She lost her home, and her sense of direction. At her lowest point, she lived out of her car, wandering aimlessly through life. Each night, she faced the daunting task of simply finding a safe place to park and sleep.
"I was abused, used, and lost," she recalls. "I had no purpose or place."
But in 2006, everything changed when Senseera was handed the keys to a CHN apartment. It was more than just a roof over her head – it was a lifeline. “For the first time in 30 years, I wasn’t just fighting to survive. Without CHN, I would still be on the street – maybe even dead."
CHN offered more than just housing; it provided access to the critical services she needed to reclaim her life. With their support, Senseera joined Alcoholics Anonymous, got into counseling, and, for the first time, began to find stability.
She speaks candidly about the transformation: "CHN helped me realize that it’s okay to talk openly about mental health. There’s no shame in seeking help. And when I hit rough patches, I learned that I don’t have to struggle alone – I have a community behind me.”
Senseera’s story is a powerful testament to CHN’s life-changing work. Today, she is 60 years old and proudly celebrates her journey of recovery. She is free from addiction, her mental health is stable, and she is filled with happiness and purpose. She now has a job she loves within her community, attends church every Sunday, and dedicates herself to helping others.
“I’m proud of the work I’ve done to transform from the old Senseera into the person I am today. I believe that each of us has the power to make a difference, to uplift others who are struggling."
