Tanyea’s Story
Tanyea, a participant in our Residential Program, has been dedicated to her journey of healing and hope since walking through our Light House doors.
Growing up in the foster care system, Tanyea experienced a difficult childhood—moving through multiple group homes and adoptions. Like many children who come out of the foster care system, the trauma of those experiences stayed with Tanyea through adulthood.
Research shows that those who grow up in foster care are more likely to experience mental and physical health issues, homelessness, employment and academic difficulties, early parenthood, incarceration and other potentially lifelong adversities.
In fact, 50% of people experiencing homelessness nationwide have spent time in foster care during their youth.
Despite the many challenges she faced, Tanyea was able to graduate from high school in Annapolis and began building a life for herself. Throughout her journey, Tanyea was seeking a career and job security but had difficulty finding a path to long term success.
Then the pandemic started. During that time Tanyea was working at a supportive care facility and the trauma she experienced at work and at home were building up to an unmanageable level.
“I was working double and sometimes triple shifts. We were understaffed and had multiple staff members pass away. Then I got Covid and everything came to a halt.”
At the conclusion of her recovery, she lost her apartment and then struggled to find a viable alternative and a positive next step. With nowhere to live, Tanyea did not know where to turn.
Thankfully, The Light House was there to provide Tanyea with a safe place to sleep, food, case management, and other vital wrap-around care.
“A space at The Light House opened up on my birthday, so I figured that was fate. My intuition told me that this was meant to be…Then I found out I could start their culinary training program and I was blown away because that had been a dream of mine for years.”
After moving into The Light House Tanyea was determined to make the most of her time in the program and began setting goals for a bright future. With the help of her Light House Client Advocate, Tanyea was connected with counseling, healthcare, and began working with The Light House Workforce Program.
“I’ve been seeking help and healing my whole life, but now I’m finally getting the support that I’ve been asking for all these years. The Light House listens. When I first came here, I talked to staff and expressed what I’m going through and each step of the way they would say ‘here’s what you can do’ and ‘here’s how we can help’…”
Tanyea excelled in the culinary track of The Light House’s employment training program and we are happy to report that thanks to her hard work and skill she recently completed her ServSafe Food Manager Certification! Tanyea was also trained and hired at Light House Bistro where she is a valuable member of the team.
We are grateful to have Tanyea as part of our Light House family as she continues on her path of healing and hope!
Your support of The Light House ensures that we can continue to provide neighbors, like Tanyea, with the life-changing programs and services they need to find their path back home.
