People experience homelessness for many reasons: lack of affordable housing, job loss, mental health concerns, the death of a loved one. ⁠During a pandemic, these obstacles become even more challenging—as they did for Sharon.⁠

When Sharon was 25, she got married. Her husband was a carpenter, and together, they started a small business. She put everything she had into it.

But when Sharon left that unhealthy marriage behind, she lost the business, too. She had no place to live. She was suddenly alone and struggling to cope with buried mental health challenges. ⁠

“I cried a lot because I didn’t realize that my life had fell apart,” she said. “You can’t put all your eggs in one basket, and I did that. I did put all my eggs in one basket, and then I found myself homeless.”

But she also found GlobalGiving partner N Street Village.

Through the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, she was surrounded by an incredible network of people dedicated to putting structure and stability back in her life.⁠

N Street Village’s vocational programs helped Sharon find employment, and the mental health care she received helped her prioritize herself and her health for the first time in years.

Today, she lives in Permanent Supportive Housing and is working full time.

⁠Sharon shared:

“Despite everything, I feel a sense of stability. With the support of N Street Village, I recently got a promotion at work and have been fortunate enough to work remotely through the COVID-19 pandemic.”

N Street Village provides housing and services to help women experiencing homelessness like Sharon or working to make ends meet with low incomes. Of the nearly 1,400 women they support, 86% are managing a mental illness, a substance use disorder, or both.

Help women experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. by supporting N Street Village’s mission.

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Original story by Ann McCreedy, Grants Manager at N Street Village.