Every month, we feature a United Way Partner Agency’s client experience, demonstrating the impact that donations to United Way of Sheboygan County are making. This month’s client experience was submitted directly by Heidi Gudmundson, Executive Director at Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization, as part of their annual application for Bridgeway and Beyond Transitional Living Program funding.

Carol* is a current resident at Bridgeway and this is her story:

“I’m a resident at Bridgeway (BW) and I believe that change is possible and BW can help other mothers like me to change their lives as I have. I am a recovering addict who has struggled with addiction since I was 14 years old. It wasn’t until my mother passed away on my 30th Birthday that things spiraled out of control for me. My mother was also an alcoholic and drug addict. She passed away from a massive heart attack and was very intoxicated when she died. I didn’t know how to cope with her death and began using drugs heavily. My two beautiful children had to go live with my dad and step mom, I lost my apartment, and I was soon sleeping from couch to couch and I started committing crimes for drug money. I was eventually caught and sent to prison. In prison I completed a very intensive 6 ½ month alcohol and drug addiction treatment program, called the Earned Release Program. Before I knew about BW I had nowhere to go upon my release from prison. I felt helpless and scared. I was doing well in my program and was ready to make positive changes in my life but I needed to change the people, places and things from my past in order to stay sober and I needed a safe place to live in order to do that.

“When my social worker told me about BW a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders because it sounded like just what I needed. I gave Claudette, the case manager at BW, a call and was able to do the interview in order to get on the waiting list over the phone. With the help of my social worker I stayed in contact with Claudette for the remainder of my time in the ERP program and moved in at the successful completion of my program in July. I’ve accomplished a lot in the year and a half I have been clean. BW has been a huge support system for me since I have been released. I lost a job I really liked due to my felony. The job was supposed to be a 4-month temporary position to get a reference, but my supervisors wanted me to stay on so they convinced me to apply for a supervising position that was opening up. When corporate did my background check to consider hiring me for the position they found that I didn’t meet the 18 month guidelines for hiring past felons and was immediately fired not allowing me to even complete the rest of my 3 weeks in the temporary position. I was devastated and angry as I saw myself being able to work towards a transition plan and that vision was crushed. Staff and other residents at BW helped me to work through this blow and supported the new plan I started creating for my next step.

“I have since found another part time job and applied to UW Sheboygan; I plan to start in January. BW is helping me apply for grants for school so I can accomplish my goal of becoming a substance abuse counselor so I can help others who are struggling with addiction. As with all of you, life isn’t easy and there are many setbacks, but I have learned that talking to people has helped me learn to cope with what life throws at me. I see a relapse prevention therapist every other week, I have a sponsor, and attend 2 NA meetings a week in order to continue to get the support I need to live life on life’s terms. It’s not always easy to live at BW, but the opportunities that BW offers; like the emotional support, rides to work, bus passes, affordable housing and lots of other things definitely out-weigh the negative. I have done all the foot work to maintain my sobriety, but if it wasn’t for BW I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish everything that I have. We need places like this to help more mothers like me who want to change their lives but have been struggling to make the changes necessary. My story continues to unfold. Although I’m not sure what will happen next, I am confident that I have learned the tools I need in order to continue to move forward into the future. I will continue to share my story as it may help others who have similar struggles find hope.”

*Name changed to protect client confidentiality