Rebecca’s Story: From Crisis to Home
A Journey of Courage, Hope, and Renewal
When Rebecca and her two young children arrived at 360 Communities’ Lewis House, she carried little more than a laundry basket and a fierce resolve. “That night, my heart was broken in a million pieces,” she recalls, “but I felt safe. I really feel that God heard our prayers.”
Rebecca had endured months of emotional abuse. Her partner cut her off from bank accounts, took her car keys and laptop, and isolated her from friends and family. “I felt on fire every single day,” she says. “I knew I was on borrowed time.”
After nearly a month of calling hotlines without success, an advocate at Lewis House finally said the words she desperately needed: yes. “When she told me we could come that very evening, it was the happiest news I could imagine.”
“Nobody celebrates going to a domestic violence shelter, but to me it meant hope.”
Finding safety and support at 360 Communities
At Lewis House, Rebecca found more than security. Daily check-ins with an advocate helped her set small, practical goals. Staff guided her through the process of obtaining an order for protection and connected her with a court advocate. “I never felt like I was alone,” she says.
Her children thrived, enjoying bunk beds, toys, and outings like trips to a local water park. Support groups introduced Rebecca to the “power and control wheel,” giving her words for the abuse she had endured. “It was eye-opening and validating,” she explains. “It made me feel like it wasn’t my fault.”
Starting over
After 60 days, Rebecca faced another challenge: rebuilding life beyond the shelter. With no income and a long legal road ahead, she juggled court hearings, transportation for her kids, and the search for stable housing. “To have custody, I needed a three-bedroom home. Rents were impossible,” she remembers.
Undeterred, she kept calling, visiting properties, and interviewing attorneys. “Eighteen months of being told no gave me a huge appetite to make our new home a great one,” she says. With help from a supportive relative and a manager who believed in her, Rebecca purchased a modest mobile home the same day she started her new job as a nursing assistant. “I literally kissed the wood floor,” she says. “It meant everything to us.”
Safe and thriving
Today, Rebecca’s daughter is preparing for college, and her son is thriving in high school. She continues to support affordable housing initiatives and share her story. “Calling Lewis House was courage,” she reflects. “But it didn’t end there. I had to keep moving forward and create the life we deserved.”
Her advice to other survivors: “Don’t let fear or shame keep you from accepting help. Hold your head high. This is just temporary. One day, you will give back to others again.”
Lewis House provided the safety Rebecca needed to begin again. Her perseverance turned that starting point into a lasting home and a hopeful future for her family.