“My main goal has always been to help people. Maybe this is my foot in the door for something even bigger.”
Just over a year ago, Sondrah found herself at Shelters of Saratoga as a resident, navigating Code Blue and the painful realities of homelessness. She had lost her house, her car, her job — and with them, the stability she once had. Today, she walks through the Emergency Shelter doors not as a guest, but as a staff member helping others rebuild their lives.
Her journey is a full-circle moment. After the loss of both parents and the disconnection from family, Sondrah faced immense instability. “At one point, I had everything — a car, a steady job, independence. By age 32, I had lost it all,” she reflects. “I didn’t have family nearby. Being here and having that support system made all the difference. Now I get to be that support for others.”
Whether she’s cleaning, cooking, helping a guest get an ID, or simply offering a listening ear, Sondrah brings a unique and relatable energy to her role. “Because of my history, I understand what our guests are going through. And for them, it helps to see someone who’s been in their shoes.”
She credits staff her former case manager with helping her regain her footing — from completing housing applications to getting her driver’s license reinstated. “They believed in me. That positive energy made a huge impact,” she says. “Now I can pass that on.”
Though new to Saratoga, Sondrah says she’s finally found a rhythm — and a bit of peace. “When you’re homeless, you’re in survival mode. Everything is overwhelming. It’s hard to think past the next day. Now I can breathe. I’m stable. I’m not just surviving anymore — I’m living.”
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