Helping Heather Heal
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heather at home at leona blanche house.
“I could finally see that there was hope. Project Renewal helped me get to a much better place—physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
As Heather built a promising career in academia, she became overwhelmed by stress. She was teaching at the City University of New York, pursuing a PhD, and managing a difficult relationship. When anxiety and depression took hold, she turned to alcohol. Her body broke down and she was hospitalized. Unable to maintain her job, she was evicted and became homeless.
At Project Renewal’s New Providence shelter, Heather began to heal. Understanding the importance of long-term care, she met weekly with our psychiatrist, who prescribed medication to stabilize her mental health. She engaged in recreational activities, including a weekly music group and cultural outings. During check-ups at our on-site medical clinic, she focused on nutrition to maintain her long-term health. “I could finally see that there was hope,” she said.
Within two years, Heather was ready to live more independently, and moved to Leona Blanche House, a Project Renewal transitional housing program. She continued visiting her psychiatrist at New Providence and when COVID hit, she transitioned seamlessly to telepsychiatry service.
Today, with our support, Heather is preparing to search for a permanent home. “If I hadn’t come to Project Renewal, I would probably be dead,” Heather reflects. “They helped me get to a much better place—physically, mentally, and emotionally.”
