Stories from Skid Row: Zulema's story - Holding on to a precious book that changed her life.

This month I wanted to share Zulema's Incredible story of transformation. From recovering from addictive behaviors, living in the streets to graduating from Hope Gardens Program, and falling in Love with a gracious Savior. Watch Zulema's Restoration story.

“I was a drug addict and an alcoholic. All of that led me to being homeless on the streets. Being a woman, I had to be cold-hearted, and I had to make sure that I did everything I could to survive. This is one of the last encampments where I was. I was pretty much living right here in these tracks where you see. It was hell out here. It was hell. When I was on the streets, I felt like trash. I felt cast out of society, as if nobody even wanted to look at me. I felt very low because I didn't think there was a way out. Until I received a gift. I received it while I was out on the streets. A lady gave me a bible and I held onto it and it started changing me. . . even though I didn't understand it, even though I was living a sinful lifestyle, God reaching out to me and helping me open my spiritual eyes and my spiritual ears to understand that God was calling me and He wanted me to leave that lifestyle. While I was on the streets, I realized I was eight months pregnant. I was at my lowest point. Either I look for help, or I'm going to end up dying out here, and I don't want to die with my baby out here. That's when I looked for help and Union Rescue Mission was there to help me and provided a roof for me and my son. Here at Hope Gardens’ they've allowed me to work on myself physically, mentally, and emotionally. I thank God for the transformation He has brought about in me. If it weren't for God intervening in my life, I wouldn't be here. I was supposed to already be dead, but God said, "No, that's my child." He rescued me from the devil's grasp, and I'm here. Thank God. “

We have 75,000 people devastated by homelessness. More than 50,000 are on our streets, and a significant portion of that rapidly increasing street homelessness is concentrated in encampments. And those encampments used to be primarily on Skid Row in Los Angeles. But it's hard to find a neighborhood in LA that doesn't have an encampment. Knowing that many people, especially young ladies, are struggling in encampments and being abused, it's heartbreaking.

Our guests have all sorts of inner wounds that need to be overcome. Through your help, coupled with our partners, counselors, chaplains, and staff we made it through many challenges and needs that seemed impossible to overcome. But we serve a God of miracles.

We could not do this life-changing, life-transforming work without your prayers and support.


Thank you.

Andy Bales

President/CEO