We’re celebrating Julie’s Joy House graduation at Providence Network! When a resident completes our program, we take a moment to look back and reflect on the journey. As we do so, we’re grateful to see how Julie’s transformation reflects growth in our three missional goals: economic self-sufficiency, healthy relationships, and redemptive beliefs.
Life Before Joy: A Toxic Relationship
When a supportive family member left Denver, Julie’s support network left too. That led to an unhealthy relationship that quickly turned abusive, culminating in a life-threatening situation. Neighbors called the police and suddenly Julie and her son had to find a place of their own. Through The Gathering Place, Julie found Joy House and was the first resident to move in after COVID.
Reflecting on her time at Providence Network, Julie says, “It was really hard at first. It was a lot of change. But it was definitely worth it. In the beginning it was like, ‘this is the only place we can go’ but it evolved into so much more.”
Arriving at Joy House
Julie didn’t know what to expect when she arrived at Joy House. “It was really nerve wracking. Trying to interact with neighbors and staff, the commitment of dinners and meetings. It was a lot.” Julie persevered, making the decision to trust the staff and give the program her all. She credits her mentor, De’Leathia Hightower, our former community manager, with helping her grow. Julie shares:
She was really good at tough love, which is something that a lot of people need. They need you to be strict with them, but they need to know it’s coming from a place of love and they want you to do better. De’Leathia was everything that I needed even though sometimes she made me mad.
Julie says that last part with laughter in her voice. Now she remembers this time with a smile and gratitude.
Redemptive Beliefs: A Bunch of Little Changes
When asked how Joy House changed her, Julie shares how it impacted her relationship with God, her relationships with others, and how her son grew through it as well.
It was a bunch of little changes over time. It really helped restore my faith in God and trusting in his plan. And it helped me become more empathetic, especially hearing other people’s stories. Once I became comfortable, it helped me come out of my shell. I made friends at the house and with some of the staff. I feel I was really able to open up. And it was a great place for my son. He loved it. He loved going to dinners. He loved having friends to play with just down the hall. It was a really close bond that formed.
Our Program Director, Dana Jones, says many of the children who come through Joy House look back at their time there with fondness, and even return to visit.
Economic Self-Sufficiency: Budgeting & Saving
Before Joy House, Julie depleted her remaining funds on the temporary solution of staying in a motel. But when she arrived, the team helped her take steps to regain her economic self-sufficiency, easing her into the discipline of paying monthly program fees and training her how to budget. Speaking of budgeting, she says, “It’s so much better in the long run. They’ve definitely helped me be more responsible with my money.”
Julie is now saving for a vehicle and setting aside funds for emergencies. She is enrolled in online college classes, studying social work and focusing on patient advocacy. She hopes to become a care coordinator and get her master’s degree so she can provide therapy. “I definitely feel like my time at Joy House helped with having more empathy,” Julie says. Through the experience, she developed as a person, friend, and mother and discovered a vocational calling for her life.
Healthy Relationships: Staff Care
At first, Julie felt reserved and guarded around the staff, but the longer she was there, the more she realized how much they really did care and were sincere about wanting her to succeed. One night when Julie was having a tough moment, De’Leathia came and spoke to her even though she wasn’t the staff member on duty that night. “She was real with me,” Julie remembers, grateful for her guidance and advice. “You couldn’t get that if you were just living alone.”
Reflecting on healthy relationships, a core part of Providence Network’s programming and goals, Julie shares, “I haven’t had a lot of good interpersonal friend relationships so it was nice to see and experience that with strong women around me.”
One particularly funny moment came at Joy House when Julie tried sneaking a french bulldog into her apartment via a tote bag. It was a wintery cold month and she didn’t want the dog to be left unattended. Her son quickly spread the word about their furry guest and Julie’s deed was found out. The staff loves to joke with Julie about her tote bag sneakiness. She remembers other fond memories in the community—dance parties, Bop It, and a lot of laughter—all the elements of living life together that help break down internal walls so healing can happen.
Julie’s Joy House Graduation
Describing what it was like to graduate, Julie remembers the evening flying by. Her friends and family came to celebrate and encourage her. The staff shared words of praise and she even said a few words as well. “It almost felt like my birthday,” Julie recalls. “I can’t believe it’s already been two years, but it’s been great.”
Julie encourages other single moms to apply. “It is a place of joy and love,” she says. “You don’t get that very often in life, so appreciate it. It’s so much more than housing or transitional rehab to try and stay clean. It’s really good for the soul.”
Joy House is a Denver based addiction recovery program for single moms and their children that frequently serves those coming out of domestic violence and homelessness. At Providence Network, we want Joy House to be a place of support and understanding for single moms and their children to experience lasting recovery and healing.
To apply to the program, visit our Get Help page.
Watch more Joy House videos.
