“...don’t lose sight of hope especially in the darkest moments. Hang on fiercely to your faith if only by a thread, because through my personal experience there are always solutions.” - Paula
After more than a decade of uncertainty, Paula says she’s finally where she belongs. “I have finally landed, thanks to Hope Solutions. It’s been a long journey, but it’s the most wonderful place.”
Paula’s story is one of perseverance and grace through years of hardship. A longtime Contra Costa County resident, she once worked for the local school district. But after suffering a heart attack and receiving a pacemaker, she faced a long recovery. “It’s a competitive job, and I knew I’d be out for a while with surgery and everything.”
She took on small part-time jobs where she could, but her health made steady work impossible. “Physically, I wasn’t able to keep up,” she says. Over time, her situation grew more difficult — eventually leading to 13 years without stable housing.
Paula and her son built small shelters on stilts near the river in Antioch, close to the Amtrak tracks. “He built one for me and one for him — just big enough for us to sleep in,” she says. “We were there for about a year or more at a time.” Despite the harsh conditions, Paula carries no bitterness. “I wouldn’t trade my experience at this point, but I didn’t want to die in my tent either.”
That’s when Hope Solutions came into her life — and everything began to change.
“The moment I crossed the threshold <at Hope Village Walnut Creek >, the staff was just genuinely so welcoming. And to this day, they’re still here for me. I’m very independent, but I’m grateful for their support.”
Now in her seventies (though she insists she’s “still 36 at heart”), Paula has found not just a safe home, but a caring community. Her Hope Solutions case manager helps her with everything from rides to medical appointments to organizing her healthcare. “Anything that happens—stupid stuff I do,” she jokes, “they come, and they’re here.”
Paula beams when talking about the Hope Solutions team. “He’s got the patience of a saint! Always available, no matter what.”
Today, Paula’s days are filled with gratitude and peace. “Hope Solutions gave me stability,” she says, “but also dignity and kindness. I finally have a home — and I feel cared for.”
Paula also found profound kindness in the members of Grace Presbyterian Church, where Hope Village Walnut Creek is located. The congregation welcomed Paula with open arms and prioritized her well being in ways she found both touching and transformative. “Since connecting with Hope Solutions, I have regained the dignity and self-respect I thought was lost living homeless for so long.”