“Housing matters and safe and affordable housing matters, and understanding that it's not the people don't want to do better, it's that it's a lot harder than it looks.” –Shyanne Urban, Rapid Rehousing Program Manager
Gina had finally taken her young daughter and fled her abusive partner, but she had done so with no job, no savings, and nowhere to go. She had unresolved chronic health problems she’d been unable to seek treatment for due to lack of access to health care, and she’d developed severe CPTSD from the ongoing strain of living with daily emotional abuse. Her physical and mental health symptoms made it difficult to get out of bed most days, let alone hold down a job. On top of it all, she had begun taking unprescribed pills to get through days filled with physical pain along with mental and emotional anguish. She first went to her mother’s house but was unable to stay for long. Gina’s relationship with her family was strained, and her mother was volatile and frequently verbally abusive, constantly threatening to kick Gina and her daughter out onto the street. The continuous stress and mistreatment brought Gina to her breaking point. Desperate for reprieve, she took her daughter and left.
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