Having a safe place to call home can be a catalyst for transformation, growth, and healing. Tina, a resident of Northpoint Commons for over 12 years, reflects on how having a stable home has been crucial to her journey of healing and supporting others. “I can’t quite put it into words, but this housing made everything possible… I can focus on my healing, knowing I have a place to call home.”
Tina is widely recognized in her community for her selflessness and dedication to helping others, self-admittingly putting others’ needs above her own. As a mother, grandmother, teacher, and survivor, she embodies resilience, perseverance, and compassion. A lifelong learner, she currently balances a full-time job while pursuing a master’s degree in social work, focusing on trauma-informed care for women and children affected by domestic violence. “This is my passion,” Tina shares. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I love giving back to the community because the need is so great. This is where I belong—helping people.”
For Tina, this story is deeply personal. Like many others, she lost her home in 2010 due to the financial crisis of 2007-2008, which impacted thousands of working-class families. The years that followed were challenging, as she endured a toxic relationship and domestic violence, ultimately leading to homelessness as she tried to shield her children from the trauma she had to endure. Even in trauma, there was the will to survive, persevere and thrive. She knew this was not her story, and found solace in her children and the community she would soon find.
A friend suggested she explore Northpoint Commons with Property Partnership Management. She was so excited when her application was accepted and embraced her new life, finding a warm, welcoming, and open community. Her children thrived in a positive school environment, and she felt free to be herself and connect with others, even finding her new best friend, Belinda, next door. Together, they built a sense of home by helping others—cooking meals together, sharing wifi so a neighbor could attend online classes, offering rides to appointments, and much more. Tina’s impact on those around her was so profound, and many noticed her want to give back. It made sense that is was her neighbors who first noticed when something was wrong…
Many neighbors noticed something was wrong when Tina’s car was simply parked funny. She had pulled into her parking space rather than back in, like she normally does. Many offered to help, but it was her school principal who took her to the hospital when she felt side pain. She ended up spending 16 days in the hospital and was diagnosed with an extremely rare blood disorder called Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, affecting only 900 people in the United States alone. In the hospital, she was in stage three kidney and liver failure. Yet, Tina knew this would not be the end of her story. She fought and came out stronger. She credits human connection for saving her life. Currently, she goes to infusions every eight weeks and will do this for the rest of her life. But as Tina likes to say, “I’m not letting it hold me back.”
In 2024, Tina’s journey has come full circle. Though healing takes time, she continues to thrive. She’s close to earning her master’s degree in social work and still teaches at the elementary school she once attended. She remains deeply involved in her community, helping to fundraise for a new playground, supporting her neighbors, teaching kindergarten, and has a long-term goal of making a difference through a nonprofit organization. Most of all, she loves being a grandmother! She has two grandchildren, with a third on the way. “I’m fixing to be Gigi to number three,” Tina says with a big smile.
Tina credits her daughter, Kayden, with saving her life during her darkest days. Kayden is well aware of the challenges her mother faced, yet her resilience always shone through. “She’s conquered everything. She’s an inspiration, not just to me but to so many others,” Kayden says. Now 25, Kayden is a licensed practical nurse working with a geriatric population in a nursing home, following in her mother’s footsteps by helping others.
To top it all off, to honor Tina’s commitment to community, CAHEC awarded Tina as “Resident of the Year” at the 2024 CAHEC Awards in June. “I feel like the community has given so much to me. I just want to pay it forward. I want to help others succeed as others helped me succeed.” said Tina when interviewed for a video that honored her at the award ceremony. Her many friends and neighbors noted no one was more deserving.
The journey to recovery is long, but having a safe and stable home makes all the difference. Tina hopes that by sharing her story, she can encourage at least one person to seek help if nothing else happens. She also hopes to inspire others to find ways to offer help wherever they can. In the end, Tina notes “Having this home, to be able to have something dependable, knowing at the end of the day, I’m coming home. That makes the difference.”