You Gave Kristina a Place to Call Home

“I didn’t know how to survive on my own. I thought I was ready—but I wasn’t. I was scared and completely alone.”

Kristina had always dreamed of independence. Bright, determined, and full of quiet resilience, she spent her childhood moving between foster families and group homes. Despite the instability, she carried hope: hope for a place to call her own, a job she could be proud of, and the freedom to make her own choices.

On her 18th birthday, she decided it was time to take that leap. She found a small one-bedroom apartment, poured every penny she had into making it hers, and stepped into a life she had imagined—but the reality was overwhelming. The pressures of daily life soon collided with her anxiety, leaving her paralyzed by fear and self-doubt. She didn’t know how to cook, couldn’t afford meals or utilities, and had no one to turn to for guidance.

In a desperate attempt to make ends meet, she allowed a friend to move in—but the arrangement wasn’t authorized. Soon Kristina lost her apartment and faced the prospect of homelessness.

Feeling lost, she remembered a former social worker’s suggestion: Casa Pacifica and its Stepping Stones program. Stepping Stones provides case management, housing, education, mental health services and life skills training to help at-risk young adults successfully transition into independence.

Though hesitant about communal living again, Kristina toured the program—and found more than a place to stay. She found a community that welcomed her, a team that believed in her potential, and the tools she needed to take control of her life. Stepping Stones gave her a safe space to learn, grow, and prepare for the future. She gained job training, financial skills, life skills, and counseling, building a foundation she had never had before.

Today, Kristina is thriving. She has a part-time job, is enrolled in college, holds a driver’s license, and has tripled the money in her savings account. She’s actively building her credit and preparing to move into a two-bedroom apartment with a friend—a true home.

“I never thought I’d get here,” Kristina says. “Casa Pacifica helped me see and build the future I’d always wanted.”

Kristina’s story is just one of many. Every day, countless young adults face the threat of homelessness, trauma, and instability. With your generosity, we can provide them with the support, guidance, and hope they need to step into independence and a brighter future.