A Mom and Her Twin Boys Find New Beginnings

For twenty years, Amanda struggled with addiction, a period she describes as “complete darkness.” In that time, she lost both her parents and custody of her daughters. “My life was in complete shambles,” she recalls. 

Her self-described “slap in the face” came when her two oldest children confronted her, expressing their pain and desire for her to get help. Their plea for her to change sparked a realization: she needed to break free from her destructive patterns.

After completing a year-long in-patient treatment program, Amanda was not yet ready to live independently. She learned about City of Refuge from a teacher at her treatment facility. Initially hesitant to move onto City of Refuge’s campus, Amanda decided to trust in a higher plan. 

“God was like, ‘Nope. This is where you’re supposed to go. Just trust me,’” she said. This leap of faith led her to City of Refuge, a decision she says she “wouldn’t change for the world.” 

A New Beginning

In June 2022, Amanda and her six-month-old twin boys moved into Eden Village, City of Refuge’s on-campus housing program. Over the next year, her life transformed in ways she never imagined. She maintained her sobriety, marking three years of being clean. She saved a significant amount of money, cleared her warrant, regained her driver’s license, received a car, and secured a stable job. “City of Refuge has blessed me beyond measure," she reflects.

City of Refuge’s holistic services played a crucial role in her transformation. “From the counseling to the peer support groups, all of it really helped me,” she shared. She received childcare for her twins at the City Kids preschool program, attended classes, and even obtained a job at a local café with hours that perfectly matched her sons’ preschool schedule. 

“City of Refuge is like home to us. The boys know this place. They know everyone here. City of Refuge is family,” she said.

But Amanda’s journey wasn’t without challenges. When she applied for an apartment, her application was initially rejected due to a felony warrant and poor credit. However, with the assistance of Malika Washington, the Assistant Director of Housing at City of Refuge, Amanda’s application was eventually accepted. 

At the beginning of 2024, Amanda and her boys moved into their own permanent housing. For the first time, they experienced the joy of having their own place. “They love it. This is new to all three of us, having our own place,” she says.

Amanda’s story is a testament to the life-changing power of support and community. To the donors who make City of Refuge’s programs possible, she offers heartfelt thanks. “They’re a Godsend. They've truly blessed so many lives that they're probably not even aware of. Thank you.”

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