Meet Rachel, a mother of 3 boys, in her 40’s, who has been a guest at our Walworth Street Emergency Shelter for 5 months. She grew up in South Glens Falls, NY, experiencing a fairly stable childhood until her parents’ divorce when she was 11 years old. By 13, she had started experimenting with alcohol and marijuana, leading to her first experiences with therapy. At 16, she entered outpatient treatment for substance use, despite coming from a family who didn’t use drugs or alcohol. 

Academically, Rachel excelled—she was a good student, stayed out of trouble, and played field hockey and other sports. Unfortunately, her substance use worsened in college. Finding out she was pregnant, she sought treatment and became sober. After breaking up with her son’s father when he was 2 years old, she relapsed but determined to turn things around, she sought treatment and achieved sobriety again.

After her recovery, Rachel married, had two more children, and built a stable life. She remained sober for over a decade, dedicating herself to being a stay-at-home mother to her 3 boys and a supportive wife. This long period of stability provided a foundation she hoped would last, but when her marriage ended in 2019, everything began to unravel.

Following the separation, she suffered a relapse and experienced a psychotic break during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the need for help, she sought treatment and has now been sober for three years.

Just before arriving at Shelters of Saratoga, Rachel faced another crisis. A breakup with a boyfriend left her without a home, forcing her to stay at a campground for weeks. Isolated and feeling depression creeping back in, she knew she was at risk of relapsing again. Seeking assistance from social services, she was first placed in a hotel before being referred to Shelters of Saratoga. Initially hesitant about communal living, she now describes it as “the best thing to help me get reestablished in my life.”

“The support and structure, which I lacked, I found here,” Rachel shares. “It has helped me in a way that I felt supported enough to help myself.”

Living with bipolar disorder and severe PTSD stemming from past trauma, Rachel has leaned on the resources available to her. She works closely with her case manager, Kaci, who has played an instrumental role in her progress.

“Kaci has helped me by being my point person, helping me get rides to my appointments, connecting me with a job coach to work on my resume, and providing resources for mental health support,” Rachel explains. “Sometimes, she just gives me a reassuring pep talk. I trust her.”

Today, Rachel has a stable job, and earned a promotion shortly after starting. She is waiting to transition into her own apartment and hopes to return to real estate or campground management, industries where she has prior experience. More than anything, she looks forward to simple daily joys—like sitting down and eating dinner with her children again. Despite the challenges she has faced, she finds joy in seeing how well her children have grown, a fact that still surprises her in the best way.

Rachel is determined to give back. “I will definitely be back to help out once I am stable,” she says. “You [Shelters of Saratoga] literally pick people up off the ground, hold their hand while they are still shaky, and help them establish a solid foundation to work from when they leave. There is no other place like this.”

For those struggling, her advice is simple: “Sometimes when it gets really bad, just focus on doing the next right thing. Focus on making the next right choice.”

From where she started to where she is now, Rachel has made tremendous progress. Her journey is a testament to the power of support, resilience, and the hope that change is always possible.