Stories of Survival
Behind every statistic about homelessness is a human being—a parent, a worker, a neighbor—facing a crisis they never expected. The numbers don’t show the stroke that stole a career, the family fleeing addiction, the mother fighting to keep her children, or the man who lost everything and still refused to give up. These stories remind us that homelessness is not their problem—it is a human problem, and any one of us could find ourselves in the same place with one twist of fate. Stories of Survival lifts up the voices behind the numbers, honoring their courage, their pain, and their unbreakable will to rebuild.
Susan Hollingsworth
Susan describes a lifelong struggle with severe hallucinations and internal battles she believes are linked to schizophrenia, challenges she has managed on her own since early childhood. She arrived at MCREST during a moment of deep personal crisis, feeling as though the “dam was breaking,” but found safety, structure, and unwavering support from her case manager, Kimerie. Through goal-setting, daily guidance, and access to on-site mental health partners like Easterseals, she learned to manage her symptoms, rebuild her confidence, and take meaningful steps toward securing housing through a newly awarded voucher. For Susan, MCREST became the difference between chaos and stability—turning a flood of overwhelming emotions into “a beautiful river,” giving her space to heal, grow, and help others along the way.
“It’s like I was fighting a war within myself, and every day was a struggle. Coming here was the biggest help I could have had.”
Todd Hill
Todd Hill shares how a painful series of losses—his divorce, a long battle with opiate addiction, the death of a close friend and roommate, and the loss of housing—led him back to MCREST more than once, each time feeling embarrassed and like a failure. Living with depression and a history of two serious suicide attempts, he found stability, direction, and hope through the support of his case manager, Danielle, whose lived experience in recovery helped him feel safe enough to be honest and set clear, step-by-step goals. With her guidance, Todd secured a Housing Choice (Section 8) voucher, found an apartment and received crucial help with documents, furnishings, and basic needs from partners like God’s Girls and Motor City Mitten Mission. Now, in his own place, he gets to host game nights and watch football with his adult children—something he once thought he’d lost—and he tries to give back in small ways, like buying breakfast or cigarettes for people experiencing homelessness, so they know someone cares.
“It’s like I was fighting a war within myself, and every day was a struggle. Coming here was the biggest help I could have had.”
Sandra Campbell
Sandra Campbell describes a long journey marked by instability, abuse, and deep self-doubt as she struggled to keep her children safe while moving from place to place. When her ex-husband abandoned the family at a store, a call to MCREST changed everything—Fred’s urgent, compassionate invitation to “get your babies in here right now” made Sandra feel, for the first time, that she was a good mother. With continued support from April and the MCREST community, she rebuilt her life: securing stable housing, earning her GED, finding fulfilling work, and raising her children into strong adults. Today, more than 20 years later, she pays that support forward in her work with students experiencing homelessness, guided by the same compassion that transformed her own life.
“I saw the kindness of people who had never known me a day in their life, willing to do anything they could to help me.”
Daniel Miller
Daniel Miller explains that after a stroke stole much of his vision, his life collapsed almost overnight—friends vanished, stability disappeared, and for the first time in his life, he didn’t know what to do. Forced into homelessness, he realized how easily anyone can fall and how every person experiencing homelessness carries a story people don’t see. Coming to MCREST felt like reaching “guardian angels,” where staff like Judy, Jane, and Kelly offered compassion, guidance, and dignity at his lowest moment. Their support helped him rebuild confidence, form unexpected friendships, and regain hope. Daniel now looks forward to the day he can fully get back on his feet so he can give back to the place he says quite literally saved his life.
“I’m no different than anybody else… every homeless guy I spoke with has a story.”
