Hayley, a participant in Simpson’s Family Housing Program, is a determined self-advocate and mother, devoted to the care of her 10-month-old son Travis. Before arriving at Simpson, she struggled with addiction and experienced homelessness for more than five years. She wanted a better life for her son and herself. Working closely with her Simpson advocate and other community resources, this resilient 28-year-old has created a stable home and a promising future for her family.
Living in her new home for five months with her son and brother, Hayley is thankful to have a home to call her own: “It is so nice to not have to worry. It’s stability I have not known for a long time. The level of stability I have in my life — knowing that we are safe, not homeless, and have all of our basic needs taken care of — brings me comfort and keeps me positive,” she says.
Hayley works with her Simpson advocate, David, once per week — now over the phone, to follow Minnesota’s Safe-at-Home guidelines. She appreciates David’s support, “I have been able to maintain my sobriety and achieve many other goals that I have set for myself. I am grateful to Simpson, for all of the support that you have given me,” she says.
Amidst the uncertainty and social distancing of COVID-19, Hayley finds solace and great joy in the quiet moments spent with her beautiful son. Attentive to his needs, she is awed by the exciting changes in his development. “I get to spend every day with my baby and watch him grow. He has gone from not even moving to crawling to walking around furniture. He has gone from not knowing words to saying, ‘Mama. Mama. Mama.’ I am so proud of him!”
Committed to her sobriety, Hayley participates in multiple components of her treatment program via Zoom video calls and phone calls throughout the week. She is grateful to have her brother and a friend in her building as her support system.
David is inspired by Hayley’s personal growth during the past several months. “Hayley is doing all the hard work that comes with recovery, and she’s also doing incredible work on self-advocacy. Trauma can make a person feel like their thoughts and needs don’t matter, and Hayley is learning to quiet that voice and speak truthfully and righteously for herself. She embodies the phrase, ‘Speak your mind even if your voice shakes.’”
Hayley expresses deep gratitude for Simpson’s support in a statement she eloquently shared with Simpson staff: “Simpson Housing Services is positively the best thing to ever happen to me, my brother, and my son. The staff helped me to achieve my goals as a person — and as a mother. The biggest goal of my life was to find a place to live, so I could have a home for me and my son. Simpson has gone above and beyond in advocating for us. I don’t know where we would be without their support.”
Hayley, the Simpson community celebrates your strengths and successes!