After suffering domestic violence, Chevelle is grateful to have a safe space to rebuild her life.

Chevelle felt trapped. For a year, she endured domestic violence, turning to alcohol and drugs to cope with the fear and pain. Eventually, her three children were removed from the home, and she found herself without a place to live. That was her rock bottom. She was sleeping in her car, separated from her kids, and knew she needed a safe place where she could reunite with them and take the time she needed to recover.

That turning point led her to the Lighthouse. She first entered the emergency shelter, staying there for two months while waiting for an opening in the Life Recovery Program. Determined to find stability for herself and her children, she remained persistent. She laughed remembering how she bothered the staff every day, calling repeatedly because she wanted to be at the Lighthouse specifically. It was a place where she could bring her kids, receive structure, and reconnect with her faith—something she knew she desperately needed.

The abuse she endured had shaken her faith, but even in her darkest moments, she sensed God drawing her back. When she was sleeping in her car, she felt God speaking to her. She had lost sight of Him during the physical abuse, but she believed He was saving her again, just as He had when she was younger. She felt He was leading her to the Lighthouse so she could reconnect with Him.

Chevelle’s trauma began long before the abusive relationship. As a child, she experienced sexual abuse, which led to ongoing mental health struggles and multiple suicide attempts. Yet through it all, she believed God was protecting her. She remembered arguing with God to let her die, and one time, at age 13, she overdosed on sleeping pills. She felt God telling her it wasn’t her time.

At the Lighthouse, she finally found space to begin healing. When she first arrived, grief overwhelmed her—grief for her home, her children, and her past. Everything hit her at once. For the first time, she allowed herself to mourn. She realized how much she had held inside. The first 30 days were about letting her emotions out in a healthy way.

Now six months into the program, her life is changing. She has been working hard on her recovery and on getting her children back. She finally has a place where she can bring them home and rebuild. With the help of her sister, who has been caring for the children, she has begun overnight visits and is hopeful they will soon be reunited permanently.

Through the program, Chevelle has gained tools and support that are helping her move forward. She said she has gained confidence and discipline—things she didn’t have before. She had shut herself off from receiving help, but the guidance, encouragement, and accountability she found at the Lighthouse have been transformative.

Today, she encourages others not to be afraid to seek help. She says the Lighthouse is a safe environment where people can rebuild and form healthy attachments—not only with themselves, but with their families and children. She is deeply grateful to those who help make the Lighthouse possible. Without them, she says, she wouldn’t be here. They made change and peace possible. Because of them, she has been given so many good things in return for all she has lost.