Client Stories

More Client Success Stories: 

Ashley’s Story

Rosie’s Story

Haley’s Story

Haley arrived at our shelter with her four children. She had fled her home and abuser in the middle of the night. Haley was badly beaten and all four children were frightened and confused, with tears streaming down their faces. At the time, our shelter was at maximum capacity – even housing two people over our capacity.

Haley and her children had nowhere else to go and we knew we couldn’t turn her and her family away. We admitted the family and Haley and her children spent two nights sleeping in our intake room until the bed space became available. It seemed like a less than ideal arrangement but when our Shelter Manager apologized for the inconvenience, Haley replied,

“I felt safer the last two nights than I have in over ten years. I actually slept the whole night! I don’t care if I sleep in a business room or on the kitchen counter, my kids and I feel safe and at peace here. I honestly do not know what I would have done without you.”

Michelle’s Story

While every client who comes to the shelter has a unique, life-changing story, Michelle’s story and experience at the shelter speaks to the need, importance and the deep impact shelter services have on people’s lives at an individual level.

After several brutal attacks over the years (the last one nearly claiming her life and her son’s life) by her boyfriend and father of her then 15-month-old son, Michelle found a safe haven at Empower Yolo’s emergency shelter. Michelle and her son came to the shelter scared and not knowing what to expect. She remembers the staff treating her with respect and kindness. Michelle specifically recalls the shelter director giving her a clean towel for her and one for her baby. She tried to give one back saying that she and her child could use the same towel while they stayed there. The shelter director kindly gave her back the other towel and told her it was fine for her to have two towels – one for her and one for her child. Michelle was overwhelmed with emotion at the kindness, generosity and respect at the shelter.

“I’ll never forget so many kind words and actions from this house; I say house because they make it feel like a home,” she said. Empower Yolo not only supplies us with a roof over our heads, a clean room and bathroom, but they generously help us with food and clothing, provide us warm blankets, towels, electricity, heat, and laundry facilities to keep our families safe and clean. They helped me get my life and my child’s life back by providing support groups, counseling, a case manager and advocate and help with finding housing to start over and move forward.

“This has truly been the best place for me and my baby. It was exactly what we needed – lots of love and care,” she said. When you have been through tragic life events sometimes kindness, love, and care heals you more than you can imagine. I will forever be grateful and never forget Empower Yolo.