Julia greets the world with a gentle strength that’s hard to miss. The groundedness she carries today reflects a long road of heartbreak, survival, and steady work to rebuild her life.
Born and raised in upstate New York, Julia’s world shattered at fifteen when a house fire killed her father and two baby nieces. She was the only survivor. “It broke my family apart,” she says. “I didn’t want to be around here anymore.” At seventeen, searching for a fresh start and some distance from the pain, she moved to Florida.
Trauma had touched her life even earlier. As a baby, she and her birth mother were in a car accident that left her mother paralyzed. Julia was adopted soon after. Years later, the settlement from that accident gave her a chance at independence, but it also pulled her into a cycle of addiction and instability once she reached adulthood.
Two years ago, after years of homelessness and addiction, Julia decided to come back to New York and start over. With $600 from her sister, she and her boyfriend Ryan packed a U-Haul and drove north. The trip was grueling—five days, sick and exhausted—but Julia believes faith got them through.
Back home, they slept in a tent, then in the woods near Glens Falls after their hotel money ran out. Eventually they reached Shelters of Saratoga. Learning she and Ryan couldn’t stay together felt like another blow, and at first she was furious. “I thought they were punishing me,” she admits. “But once I opened my heart to God, I realized they were trying to help me.”
At the shelter, Julia found more than a bed. Staff walked with her through paperwork, applications, and hard days when anxiety shut her down. Their patience helped her trust herself again. With counseling, structure, and faith, she began to feel lighter, day by day.
That progress sparked a new chapter. Through the housing program, Julia secured an apartment and started working at Market 32. She quickly stood out, training in multiple departments and earning Employee of the Month. For the first time in a long time, she believes good things can last.
Now she’s working toward her GED and driver’s license, staying rooted in
sobriety and faith. “God did His part,” she says. “And I did mine.”
Her message to others is simple: if you truly want change, reach out,
accept help, and stay willing. Today, Julia calls herself strong,
faithful, and giving—ready to keep her door open for someone else
who needs a way forward.