Trinity is on a new path and turning her life around.

At just 25 years old, Trinity has already lived through a lifetime of struggle. She has faced homelessness, addiction, jail time, and abuse. But today, she is working, sober, and finally building a future she can be proud of. With the help of St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County, Trinity is building a good life and contributing to society.
“My last boyfriend who passed away in 2024 introduced me to drugs,” Trinity said. “My clean date though is October 2nd, 2024. I’ve gone through a program and am living in a sober living environment right now. I’m actually the housing services manager for my sober living home.”

That role means a lot to her. After years of chaos, she is now someone others look to for support and structure. But the road to this point has not been easy.

“I come from generations of addiction,” she said. “I didn’t really have a stable home environment until I was 13.”

Trinity’s childhood was marked by instability. Her family struggled with drug use, and the home environment was often unpredictable. At age 13, she moved in with her father in the Bay Area. For the first time, she had a sense of safety. But that didn’t last. By the time she was 16, Trinity was homeless, living on the streets of Richmond and trying to survive.

“Being out on the streets was horrible,” she said. “There are so many predators ready to take advantage of you. I’ve been robbed, beaten, and taken advantage of. When you’re out on the street you don’t meet many people that want to help you, and those that do just more often than not hurt you in my experience. It really made it hard to trust anyone.”

Her time on the streets was filled with fear and danger. Every night she worried about where she would sleep, whether she would be safe, and how she would find food. Trust became a luxury she could not afford.

In 2020, Trinity was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and spent six months in jail. After her release, she tried to rebuild. She enrolled in college but couldn’t keep up while working full-time to survive. She worked as a leasing agent and later as a wellness assistant for adults with mental disabilities. But her rent was $2,600 a month for a one-bedroom apartment. She was overworked, overwhelmed, and still dealing with addiction.

Everything began to change in 2024. Her boyfriend passed away that year. The loss was painful, but it became a turning point.
“He was my last tie to that lifestyle,” she said. “I loved him and still do, but once he passed away, I was able to start fresh and new.”

Trinity moved into a sober living home and began a recovery program. She started attending support groups and working on herself. Slowly, she began to rebuild her confidence. Her leadership stood out, and she was eventually made housing services manager of the sober home.
But she still needed a way to support herself financially. That was when she saw a flyer for the Workforce Development Program at St. Vincent de Paul of Contra Costa County.

“I was just looking for anything when I saw the flyer for the workforce development program,” Trinity said.
She applied and was accepted. The program offers part-time paid work, individual mentors, and job training for people facing barriers to employment. For Trinity, it has been a game changer.

“It may seem small, but I’m really learning how to communicate better with people, work in a team, and that’s all stuff I never really had before,” she said. “The program is amazing. I really love it.”

Today, Trinity works at SVdP helping others in need. She assists with the clothing voucher program, gathers clothing donations, and supports the free shower program for people experiencing homelessness.

“I love that I’m working somewhere where I can help people too,” Trinity said. “I love helping gather clothes to give to the homeless at SVdP’s shower program. I love helping people fulfill vouchers for clothes for people in need.”

For the first time in years, Trinity feels like her life is moving forward. She is proud of her sobriety and hopeful about the future. She continues to grow, heal, and learn.

Thanks to her own determination, and the support of the SVdP community, Trinity is writing a new story. One filled with purpose, stability, and hope. You can help turn around the lives of others like Trinity by supporting SVdP at svdp-cc.org.