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At just 15 years old, Cory found himself on his own. His family couldn’t provide the support he needed. In fact, they had stopped parenting him years before. And he didn’t want to be involved in any of the abusive relationships he was seeing anymore.

A smart, resourceful kid with skills to get him somewhere, Cory began working, making a living, and nurturing his desire to help others. Over the years, he held various roles in the service industry and healthcare, yet his life was marked by cycles of highs and lows—a rollercoaster of experiences.

Cory’s battle with addiction became a coping mechanism for the mental health struggles he faced. Substances provided a temporary reprieve, but deep down, he knew this couldn’t go on forever. When he hit rock bottom due to addiction 10 years ago, he quit—cold-turkey. But the cycle continued, and he turned to another drug to manage his mental health struggles only to eventually quit that as well. Despite his progress, alcohol continued to be a persistent battle.

Though he wasn’t always homeless, returning to his family wasn’t an option—doing so would likely lead to a relapse, as they condoned occasional drinking. Cory knew he needed a stable environment to make the necessary changes in his life.

Seeking stability and sobriety, he reached out to UGMTC and found a place to grow in the ACTS Training Program. He moved from Iowa to the Twin Cities last fall, determined to build a new life.

“Before I came to the Mission, I was a wreck. I came here to get my independence. I came here to get stable housing. I came here to no longer have to deal with my substance abuse alone, and it’s been very helpful,” he says.

Cory is getting the wraparound care and structure that he needs. He’s received essential mental health care, sobriety support, and guidance from the program’s dedicated staff and chaplains. He’s learning about himself and what it will take to stay sober.

“I can’t run from myself, because no matter where I go, here I am. But it also takes a stable environment to fight those battles, and I did not have a stable place to go before I came to the Mission. Being here in a long-term program has given me a place to stabilize, a place to work through my problems.”

As he has stabilized, he has also become a mentor for others in the program who want to become sober. Men on his floor look to him for structure and help to overcome their own addictions. “Everybody that goes through addiction and mental health disorders learns at their own pace. I’ve learned here that drinking and relapsing is something that doesn’t have to be a part of my story anymore or a part of my life.” And he knows the same can be true for others.

Beyond UGMTC, Cory has big plans for his future. He’s looking at becoming a nurse. UGMTC’s Adult Education and Training Program has helped launch his education to the next level. After completing online courses in 2020 and 2021, he has been able to enroll at Saint Paul College to complete the requirements for his LPN, even receiving a scholarship.

He has a bright future ahead, not just in his vocation but also in how he sees himself. As his mental health has improved, he is on a path of healing his body, mind and soul. Today, he proudly says, “I don’t have to pretend to be someone to make everybody else happy. I am good enough, just as I am.”

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When Tiara became a mother, she was still living with her own mom in Chicago. Her siblings had all moved out, and she became her mother’s caretaker. But with a new child growing up and space running out, she needed to move and create a better life for her son.

Her sisters, who had moved to Minnesota, encouraged her to join them. Upon arriving in Saint Paul, Tiara faced a lack of shelter options until she discovered the Naomi Family Program. And that’s when her life began to change.

Before coming to the Mission, Tiara struggled with anger and self-doubt. Her attempts to live independently were often marred by uncertainty. Through the program, she grew in her parenting, her spiritual journey, her education, her life skills—including calming her anger—and she blossomed. She gained confidence and began to believe in herself like never before. “I’m thankful to the Mission because they helped me realize who I am,” she says.

Tiara is grateful for the Christ-centered program. “It taught me a lot. Being here, I am getting closer to God,” she reflected. “If you want to get closer to God, this is the place for you.”

She dreams of a future where she can unleash her creativity and passion by working with hair and nails. Today, Tiara and her son have moved into their own apartment, marking the start of a new chapter filled with hope and possibilities.