Finding Stability Through Supportive Housing
For Deborah, home is more than a place to live. It is a feeling she spent much of her life searching for.
Today, Deborah has lived at Sunflower Gardens for eight years. Her apartment is filled with artwork, personal touches, and reminders of the journey that brought her here. It is a space she has carefully made her own, but it took time to believe it was truly hers.
“I didn’t unpack for a year and a half,” Deborah recalled. “I couldn’t believe I really had a place I could stay.”
Before connecting with Interim, Deborah experienced significant challenges, including periods of housing instability and struggles with her mental health. After leaving a difficult situation nearly a decade ago, she found herself without a permanent place to call home. Determined to rebuild her life, she connected with local resources and eventually found supportive housing through Interim. She first moved into transitional housing before relocating to Sunflower Gardens, where she continues to live today.
Looking back, Deborah remembers how meaningful even the simplest things became during that time. One of her biggest dreams was having a bed of her own again.
“I remember the first night I was able to slide my feet between real sheets,” she said. For many people, that might seem like a small moment, but for Deborah, it represented safety, stability, and the opportunity to begin healing.
Creating a Life Filled with Gratitude
As Deborah settled into her new home, she began rebuilding more than just her living space, including her confidence, sense of purpose, and connection to the community around her. One source of inspiration came from artist Frida Kahlo. After learning about Kahlo’s life and perseverance through hardship, Deborah found herself deeply connected to her story. She began creating drawings of Frida, many of which now hang proudly in her apartment.
“She was such a survivor,” Deborah said. The artwork became a creative outlet and a way to process her experiences. Each drawing reflects not only her admiration for Frida Kahlo, but also her own resilience and personal growth.
While stable housing provided the foundation, Deborah credits much of her progress to the support she has received through counseling, groups, and the relationships she has built along the way. She continues to attend services, meet regularly with her counselor, and focus on personal growth. At 72 years old, she still describes herself as someone who is always learning.
“I love my own company,” she said. “I can honestly say that I love myself.” That statement carries special meaning considering where she began. Deborah describes herself years ago as a person who struggled to see her own worth. Today, she speaks with gratitude about the life she has built and the community that surrounds her.
In fact, one of her newest goals is finding ways to give back. Deborah is currently developing a project she calls My House, an idea inspired by her own experiences with housing and recovery. The concept focuses on helping others turn a living space into a home through creativity, self-expression, and daily living skills. The project is still taking shape, but its purpose is clear. Deborah wants to help others experience the same sense of comfort, pride, and belonging that she has found.
When asked what accomplishment means the most to her today, her answer is simple. “To have joy in my life.” It’s not about possessions or achievements. After years of searching for stability, Deborah has found a place where she feels safe, supported, and connected. She continues to grow while finding ways to support others on their own journeys.
“I was a very sad, broken human being,” she said. “Now my heart is full of joy.”
Discover more stories like Deborah’s on our Interim News Page