Amber's Story
Hear a Story of Triumph From One of Our Family Shelters
Amber’s story is one of resilience, faith, and redemption. Raised in a chaotic home plagued by substance abuse, she learned early to numb pain with drugs and alcohol. By seventeen, she was dancing for a living, but success only deepened her addictions. When her daughter Ellie was born, Amber longed for a fresh start, but the cycles of her childhood resurfaced. She lost custody of Ellie and spiraled into homelessness, addiction, and incarceration. It wasn’t until a recovery group shared the hope of Jesus with her during one jail sentence that a seed of faith was planted.
When her mother brought her to City Union Mission, Amber was ready to try something different. In the Mission’s New Life Program, she began confronting her past, building a foundation for healing, and learning how to be a mother to Ellie. Clean for the first time since age thirteen, she moved into transitional housing, became a leader at work, and pursued a dream of nursing. In 2023, Amber married Ben, a man she met through church and prayer. Together, they’re building a new legacy—one filled with purpose, healing, and hope.
