Suzoni's Story

Suzoni moved out of Berkeley Food & Housing Project’s Independent House, a six-month transitional housing program for women and their children. She is now in her own home and works at the outpatient program from which she graduated in 2007.

At the age of 15, Suzoni gave birth to her first child, Joseph, who is now 22. Suzoni gave birth to two other children: Christine (age 19) and Chopper (age 15). While raising three children, Suzoni struggled with a drug addiction. As time went by, Suzoni depleted her support systems. With her family doing what they could to help her children, Suzoni was left alone to struggle with her addiction and homelessness. Her family did not expect her to recover.

Through a conviction to pull herself up and fight for her place in the universe, Suzoni joined a recovery program. The program referred her to Berkeley Food and Housing Project Shelter and Suzoni’s journey finally began to move forward.

The BFHP Shelter made it possible for Suzoni to believe in herself enough to begin the difficult and emotionally exhausting fight against drug addiction and homelessness. First she received the tools to advance through her recovery and she is now focused on developing the skills needed to secure a job as well as housing in the outside world. She is currently a student at a computer applications training program, building job skills she needs in order to work again.

Suzoni is extremely grateful for the nurturing environment provided by BFHP’s Independent House where she stayed six months while enhancing her skills, securing work, and finding suitable housing. She has

been able to assume stable and consistent role in her children’s lives and her extended family’s life.

She shares that she would not have to known what to do without BFHP’s comprehensive programs for women and children including the Women’s Resource Center – all provided under one roof - at BFHP’s North County Women’s Center in Berkeley. Now confident in being responsible for herself, Suzoni has reconnected with her children and has begun healing the relationships within her extended family and support network. This is quite an accomplishment for someone whose family thought she was lost to the streets a few months ago.

Suzoni is an example of one of the many success stories of the Berkeley Food and Housing Project Shelter and we are proud to feature Suzoni and her family.