2026 September
By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF)
Most of us expect our family and friends to stand by us. We’ve shared good and bad times with them. They know us and we know them. They are comfortable relationships for us.
So, during hard, emotional circumstances, we assume their support will be strong – in every part of the situation. Our desire is for them to lift us up and help us feel that things will be okay. We want them to “fix it.”
We depend on them, rely on them, trust them…and then, we feel abandoned when they step away from us.
No person can independently carry the burden of our physical, mental, and emotional baggage. So, sooner or later, they have to detach themselves from our circumstance. Their response to remove themselves from us, and our heavy load, can be very painful…and confusing.
Finding a new support system is a good “next step.” Joy Junction has been the answer for many who have been placed in a hard situation, causing them to become homeless, and have no idea of what to do or where to go next.
One of our guests, DeAnna (not her real name), found herself in a similar situation.
Here’s her story:
My husband and I were so excited when our baby was born. We needed something positive to focus on. A few weeks before the birth, my husband lost his job, so we wound up losing our apartment. We had to move in with my mom and her husband.
We were not happy about that, so our baby’s birth really cheered us up. But, it wasn’t long before that feeling turned to unhappiness. My mom’s husband was an alcoholic and became mean when he was drinking. His behavior seemed to get worse the longer we stayed there.
One night, after he had pushed me while I was holding my baby, my husband got into a fight with him. My mom took her husband’s side, and I took my husband’s side. That resulted in us being kicked out of their house.
Part of me was okay with that, but the other part was scared.
I didn’t know where we would go.
I contacted my friend, and she allowed us to spend a few nights. But, since she had government-assisted housing, there were certain rules she had to follow which kept us from being able to stay longer.
We researched the internet to see if there was a place that could take in people who had nowhere to go. We called Joy Junction to see if they had room for us. They did, so we came here as soon as we could. We feel safe here and it gives us a place to call “home” while my husband looks for work.
We are so glad there are places like Joy Junction for people like us who have nowhere to go and no family to depend on.
When unexpected circumstances happen, causing a person to feel “left in the lurch,” it can bring about a deep feeling of insecurity. The unknown is scary.
The feeling of being out of control may take over and emotions can fly high. That certainly doesn’t help the circumstance.
We encourage our guests to recognize that their situation is not the end of their story and to feel hope for their future.
When any of us feel overwhelmed, it’s usually a good idea to stop a moment and take a breather from worrying about whatever the problems are. At that point, asking some pointed questions may be in order.
Were the problems caused by us?
Were they created by someone else?
Is the whole situation out of our control?
Can anything be done to change things?
Choosing to take some steps toward having positive thoughts and a “can do” attitude can be a major game changer.
Homelessness is not a situation to take lightly. So, whether unwise decisions were made to cause it, or not, there can be hope for a better future.
It’s important for our guests to see that they can take active steps today, to shape a better tomorrow. Waiting around for things to change may not bring any change at all.
For years, our programs have been set in place so people can have an avenue to use to get their lives back on the right track.
Each future sought after is created by wise choices, new habits, and a firm mindset to move forward. We work hard to help people use the mental and emotional tools provided in our programs to take one step at a time toward a positive future.
Please join us as we work to empower our guests with hope for a bright future.
