“I Learned What Love Truly Is”: Wendy’s Story

At the age of 22, Wendy faced a double tragedy. She gave birth to her son, but within a week, he tragically passed away. Shortly after, she received the devastating news of her brother's suicide.

“I was a shell of a person,” confessed Wendy. “Being so close to everybody to all of a sudden being not close to anybody…It was awful.”

A Rocky Path 

Wendy's early life was marked by instability and loss. Born in West Germany into a military family, her mother died in a car accident when she was just three years old. Her father initially sought to put Wendy and her brother up for adoption, but they ended up in the care of their great aunt and uncle in Virginia.

By 21, Wendy had left home and was out on her own. A year later, she lost both her firstborn son and her brother. “It was a struggle,” she said. “Trying to make everybody happy but feeling miserable inside.”

Fast forward nine years: Wendy was living in Florida with her second son and embroiled in a tumultuous relationship. Her driver's license was about to expire, and she needed to find work. No one could find her birth certificate, and her Social Security card incorrectly listed Atlanta as her birthplace. So with the little money she had left, Wendy came to Atlanta on a Greyhound bus to try and resolve the situation. 

But an expired ID made it next to impossible to find consistent work or housing. Even many homeless shelters turned Wendy away because of her expired driver’s license. With no money or valid ID, Wendy had to survive on the streets. With winter fast approaching, she desperately needed shelter. 

A Light in the Darkness

In November 2020, Wendy moved into Eden Village at City of Refuge after a Mercy Care security guard found her in the streets. She was given her own room, complete with a bathroom, shower, and personal hygiene supplies. After months of living on the streets without regular access to a shower, these basic amenities moved her to tears. “It was beautiful,” she recalled. 

Through the help of her case manager, Wendy was able to renew her driver’s license and ID. With her vital documents in hand, Wendy was ready to focus on her next goal: finding stable employment. City of Refuge helped her land a new job at UPS on the revenue recovery team, a role that included comprehensive health benefits and mental health services. 

This past May, Wendy graduated from Eden Village and moved into her own apartment. She’s now making enough money to pay her own rent. City of Refuge also gifted her a car, a 2003 Lexus LS. “I’m so ecstatic,” she said. “It is so nice to be so well loved.”

New Beginnings

These days, Wendy is doing better than ever. She joined her local YMCA, and she’s learning how to cook. Most importantly, she’s reconnecting with her family and with God. “I've had more communication with my family than I’ve had in the last 40 years of my life.”

She’s also committed to helping others in her community and giving back. Why? Simple. “...because I actually learned what love truly is.” 

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