Crystal is a single mother of a beautiful one year old daughter. She sought help after the living situation at her sister’s house became unhealthy. “I was sleeping on the floor with my baby, and that wasn’t good. And the house had lead paint. I was afraid my daughter and I were going to get sick, so I moved out.” Crystal has been at Bridge for a little over three months and is acclimating well. She is still close to her family and sees them often. “We are very close, it’s just that after I had my baby there wasn’t any room for me to live with them. I needed to find a place of my own.” Crystal is now living at Bridge Eliot and working part-time. She plans to attend college in the near future to become a nurse. On being a single mother she says, “It‘s made me much more responsible with things.

You make sacrifices to come here.” she says. “You have to leave behind your wild ways. It’s hard at first but then it gets easier.” In her lap, Crystal’s daughter squeals with delight. Crystal smiles and pulls her closer. “Bridge offers you so many opportunities and activities you wouldn’t get the chance to do otherwise.”

It’s easy to visualize Crystal as a future health care provider. She is extremely patient and good natured. When asked how she would describe her time at Bridge she says with a smile, “Well, it takes work, it all does, but it sure beats the streets.”