God used Kaysie and Homes and Havens to breathe His life and peace into our home and fill it with a new purpose. My son is so proud of it now, too. He loves his room and he has even been getting up and making his bed every day — without me even asking!

The holidays are fast approaching and this month is all about making room for gratitude and giving back.

This month we are reflecting back on the incredible women + stories + homes we have encountered this year. We are asking you to rejoice and celebrate with us! Because of people like you, we were able to impact these women’s lives by creating a healing haven in their home.

After completing the Renew program, my husband and I got a house and begin rebuilding our lives and our family. I felt very unorganized in this house, nothing had a place, and it did not feel like a home by any means, which was a reflection of my old life.​​​​​​​

I was grateful to have a roof over our heads one that we could call our own, but it didn't feel like home. I love coming home now and I can tell my sons feel the same way. My bedroom is the best part. It's like a cozy little hide away. I am in love!

As I went through my second divorce, God told me to let it all go: house, cabin, boat, car, things, stuff, I gave it all to my husband. Soon after that, I filed bankruptcy on the home I'd given him. It's true the less you have, the less you have to worry about.

I lived within my means in a two bedroom apartment giving the bedrooms to my three children. I had a place on the sunporch. I followed my counsel to reestablish my credit, which took about three years.

I was arrested at the age of 17 due to inaction during a crime. My inability to deal with my own pain, let alone others’ pain, created a storm that ultimately lead me to spend over 21 years of my life in prison. I wasn’t ever an adult, yet, was treated, in the justice system, as one.

In March 2017, I was released and blessed with my own “space”. While I was extremely grateful for a roof, I felt isolated. I was use to steel and concrete but this was different. How can a plush environment feel cold?

In September 2016 I found myself struggling with depression and alcohol and an ungodly marriage. Everyday I wished for death and drank more and more to numb the pain. I tried to take my own life thinking there was no way to escape the pain of the depression. Fortunately, my attempt failed and I knew I had to turn back to God.

After spending my childhood and most of my adult life being trafficked, HOME felt more like a four letter word than a place I could ever enjoy. The Zion Project is an organization that helps people who have been victims of sexual violence restore their identity. They helped me find Jesus, they give me support, and they helped me to learn how to start to heal from over 26 years of trauma. 

I grew up in church but never had a true relationship with God. I spent many years searching for anything to fill this void I had in my heart but everything left me feeling empty — nothing offered lasting satisfaction. At Renew I found exactly what would fill the void I had in my heart, something that would never disappoint me: a relationship with God. During my time at Renew I learned how to cultivate that relationship with God through reading His word, listening to His voice, and being surrounded with people who were doing the same things.