The following was written by a current resident of our Women’s Program, who is a student at Fox Valley Technical College working toward her paralegal degree. She continues to work while in school.

I was in an abusive situation with family, got tossed out and had nowhere to go. I returned to Appleton, ended up at Homeless Connections and my case manager got me into COTS. My experience has been good here. I feel safe and have plenty of quiet in which to study. Staff has been highly supportive.

Since I’ve been here, I was accepted into Fox Valley Technical College. I made the Dean’s List for the Fall 2016 semester and made Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I’ve volunteered for the Fox Valley Free Legal Assistance Clinics as a paralegal student volunteer and have gotten good experience with it.

Since I’ve been at COTS, I’ve learned perseverance. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. Don’t rely on anyone else to save you. Get the lead out—get to work. Fight for yourself.

If COTS didn’t exist, I have no clue where I’d be. It doesn’t bear thinking about. I’d like for people to know that this could happen to them very easily. One or two strokes of bad luck or a bad relationship or a health setback could wipe them out. In the meantime, be merciful.

After I get my associates degree, work and get my bachelors, in the future I’ll possibly attend law school. I’d like to fight for something worthwhile and see the world while I’m at it.