In 2018, Dondrea and her son Tobias suddenly found themselves facing homelessness after losing their apartment. As a 24-year-old single mom, her options were limited.
“Homelessness doesn’t always look crazy,” she said. “It can happen to anybody. I made good money. I don’t have any drug problems. It just became overwhelming because I was doing everything on my own. I was making $1,000 a week and still couldn’t afford to live on my own.”
Dondrea’s journey to City of Refuge (COR) was not an easy one. At a previous shelter, she and Tobias had to share a room with seven other women and their children, a situation rife with “animosity and negativity.”
However, her life took a turn when she was accepted into City of Refuge in January 2023. “It was beyond my expectations,” she said. “I thought it was going to be another place where I was going to have to struggle to make things work, but this place has been a huge blessing."
In Eden Village, they were given their own private room and space—a semblance of stability and dignity they hadn’t known in years. For Dondrea, it wasn’t just about having a roof over their heads; it was the comprehensive support that allowed her to break free from the cycle of struggle. Tobias, a fourth grader, enrolled in City School, COR’s on-campus elementary and middle school.
While living at City of Refuge, Dondrea gave birth to her second son Roger. She says she felt tremendously supported throughout the pregnancy and birth experience. Whatever she and the baby needed—clothes, diapers, etc.—was provided.
By accessing all the support services she needed “under one roof”—housing, childcare, healthy food, educational opportunities, job training, support classes—Dondrea was freed up to focus on personal growth and development.
With Roger in full-day childcare at City Kids and Tobias at City School, Dondrea enrolled and completed the NAPA Automotive Technician Training, a 16-week job training program.
“For the first time since high school, I’ve been able to complete a program because I didn’t have to worry about childcare or feeding my kids or making ends meet,” she said.
After completing the NAPA course, the COR team helped Dondrea land a job at MARTA, where she’s already begun their year-long training program.
Beyond vocational training, Dondrea also took advantage of some of the support classes offered at City of Refuge, recognizing the positive impact on her mental health. She particularly enjoyed the art classes, which she said helped reduce stress and anxiety.
As she considers the future, Dondrea is filled with hope. She’s eager to secure independent housing for her family. She’s excited about the idea of decorating the boys’ rooms. She’s looking into buying a car. Her final words echoed profound gratitude for the compassionate support she received at City of Refuge:
“I’m thankful for City of Refuge. I really am. Everybody here is so caring. They’ll go out of their way to help you get to where you belong. The opportunities that have been afforded to me—I wouldn’t have gotten them anywhere else.”
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