impact stories
It Just Feels Like Family – Robert’s Compass Story
Robert grew up just a few blocks from Water Street, attending Wonder Academy as a young child before jumping into Teen Haven camps every summer.
See stories of God restoring lives and bringing hope throughout our community.
Robert grew up just a few blocks from Water Street, attending Wonder Academy as a young child before jumping into Teen Haven camps every summer.
Kevin spent most of his life searching for a fresh start. “My mother wasn’t in my life. My father wasn’t in my life… By the
For John Rushameza, being a life coach and directing the day shelter for our Emergency Shelter guests at isn’t just a job—it’s a calling. Each
At 69 years old, Maureen Feely found herself in a position she never expected—without a home. After decades of stability, her life unraveled when her
Wanda’s journey began in the foster care system, marked by uncertainty and hardship. At just six years old, she witnessed a traumatic incident when her
Michael had his 64th birthday shortly after coming to Water Street. 64 years old and facing homelessness for the first time. When he thinks about
“I lost my job, so I lost my insurance. And all of a sudden, I got an abscess tooth.” Monique came to Water Street Health
It was Christmas time, over a decade ago, when Luz and her family found themselves without a home. She and her twin sister were 15
If there’s one thing Levon’s learned, it’s that not everyone is homeless for the same reason. “When you see someone who’s homeless, don’t just assume
At a young age, Randy was introduced to alcohol by his youth pastor. Even though he hated seeing what drinking did to his father, he
“I saw him walk across the parking lot…and I said, ‘that’s my husband’.” Yvonne had just entered Water Street’s program when Burlin crossed her path.
There was a time when Steve’s mom stayed up late each night, pacing in her bedroom and praying “Lord, please don’t take my son.” Little
With a squirmy 10 month old in her arms, Beth came to the Access Center for the first time. The idea of spending the night
It’s hard to imagine now, but Sterling came to Water Street shy and reserved. Due to his health, he was unable to work, but his
As Tamekia settles into her next art project, the words “Spread Your Wings and Fly” read across the page of her coloring book. She quickly
When Deanna came back to Water Street, she sat back, watching everyone around her distrustfully. It was a massive step of faith to return to
At 13 years old, Genesis found herself at Teen Haven, tagging along with her older siblings. The people were friendly and inviting, but still, she
He was nice and he was kind.” says Jesselys, describing Jesus. “He loves everyone.” This Spring, one of our Wonder Academy Students decided to give
Deb is a Life Coach who spends much of her time working with women in their transition out of Water Street. One of her goals
Imagine growing up without something you’d call home. You move around from place to place, sometimes staying with your family in an apartment or other
Maria is easy to pick out of a crowd, with her loud purple hair and outgoing personality. She can often be found sporting a bright
As long as he could remember, the United States represented freedom to Fulvio, freedom he couldn’t find in Cuba. Despite what government propaganda said about
As she packed her bags at 15, the last words Jess ever heard her mother say were, “I tried to have an abortion with you,
Work till you drop. That seemed like Jim’s mantra for many years. “Working 8 to 12 hour days, seven, eight, nine days a week!” he
One day, Michele popped in to check out the Outreach Center – our community food bank. She waited in line for some groceries and looked
Hannah joined our team in the fall of 2020, as a Nurse Care Manager. In her role, Hannah spends a lot of her time meeting
Michael came to Water Street looking for some temporary respite. He didn’t know how long it would take to find that rest, but when he
When Daniel first came to Water Street back in 2018, life had brought him to the brink. “I thought I was broken. I thought I
Maribella* opened her book, and read aloud in class. At the beginning of the year, she struggled to remember the sounds to each letter. Now,
Many times, the stories we tell are complex. Guests come to us from across Lancaster County for different reasons, and those reasons aren’t always easily
We last heard from Sadé in 2019, featured in the Fall Messenger Edition. Back then, overcoming the abuse she received as a child, had often
“I’ll just keep running away, you know,” Max would say to his guardians. As a young ward of the state, he was always trying to
For years, stability didn’t seem attainable to Roger. No matter where he went, running away from his childhood and joining the military, or starting a
John came to Water Street thinking he would get in, get what he needed, and get out. “My plan at the time was I’ll go,
In high school, Sharon was one of those teenagers who exuded confidence. She was a daddy’s girl, a cheerleader, and with her family behind her,
Constant shifting with COVID-19 has meant our campus is finding new ways to adapt each week. Many of our guests feel the impact of these
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