Belinda spent two and a half years living in a tent on the streets with her dog, Peanut.
After losing her market-rate housing, she found herself trying to survive day by day outdoors. Her belongings were constantly stolen. She cleaned parking lots for money when she could. Every day was uncertain, and every night required vigilance.
“I was in survival mode,” Belinda says. “Every day was a struggle, and I was hungry.”
Living on the streets exposed Belinda to trauma few people can imagine. She witnessed horrific violence, including murder. She became sick with pneumonia and suffered an infected cut that worsened over time. But she delayed going to the hospital because she was afraid to leave Peanut behind.
Still, through everything, Belinda held onto hope.
That hope led her to Mount Carmel caseworkers, who eventually connected her with Community Housing Network.
“If I didn’t move into CHN housing, I would still be in a tent on the street,” she says.
For the first time, Belinda has consistent medical care. She now sees a primary care physician and psychiatrist every month and building staff ensure she has transportation to all of her appointments. She has access to medications that help prevent the falls she used to experience frequently. She was also able to receive long-needed dental care, including dentures after having severely damaged teeth removed.
But beyond healthcare, housing has given Belinda something she missed for years: safety.
Her apartment has become a true home. The walls are filled with artwork. Peanut gets a bath every other day. Belinda loves having things many people take for granted; a refrigerator, a shower, a toilet, and a secure place to keep her belongings without fear they will disappear overnight.
Belinda says homelessness forced her to put up emotional walls to survive.
“I am compassionate and loving,” she explains, “but I had to act hard because of where I lived on the streets.”
Now, with stable housing and support, she is focused on moving forward with gratitude and purpose.
One phrase she lives by captures her outlook perfectly: “Don’t be the problem. Be the solution.”
