Anonymous Graduate – Identity Protected

This graduate came to HPC as a domestic violence survivor, fleeing several states in search of safety. Carrying years of trauma, fear, and distrust, she and her two daughters found a place where healing could begin. With no family or outside support, she worried about what leaving might mean. Yet HPC became more than housing. It was a close-knit, family-centered community. Though she faced setbacks, her openness helped her support team guide her forward with compassion.

During her time at HPC, she achieved remarkable milestones: saving thousands of dollars, paying off debt, completing 15 college credits, and being accepted into a university to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Her counselor reflected on her growth, sharing that she resisted unpacking trauma at first but gradually embraced counseling, walking the road of healing step by step.

At graduation, her counselor reminded her, “You belong to the Most High God. He will never leave you and never forsake you.” Then the graduate offered her own words: “When I first came to Hillcrest, my only concern was to protect my children. I wasn’t thinking about my own healing. But here, the little girl inside me, the one who had endured so much, finally had a chance to be heard. I came broken, but through structure, therapy, and support, I was given space to rebuild. Today I leave stronger as a mother, a woman, and in spirit. Hillcrest didn’t just give me housing. You gave me my life back.”