In the quiet corners of Davis, California, stories of transformation unfold every day. Among them is Mitzi’s story – a powerful testament to resilience, the courage to ask for help, and the life-changing impact of community support.
Breaking the Cycle
Growing up in what Mitzi describes as a “dysfunctional family,” chaos became her normal. In and out of foster care as a child, she faced numerous challenges. Despite these difficulties, Mitzi graduated high school and found employment while in foster care, showing early signs of the determination that would later fuel her recovery.
This childhood pattern of instability followed Mitzi into adulthood. After a 22-year relationship with her children’s father ended because it was “nonfunctional” and “toxic,” her struggles with addiction intensified. In 2022, her two children, then 12 and 15, were taken by Child Protective Services. History repeated itself a little too close this time.
The Turning Point
For seven months after losing custody of her children, Mitzi continued to struggle. The system that should have helped her repeatedly failed her requests for inpatient treatment.
“I kept asking CPS, ‘I need to go to inpatient. I need to go to inpatient. I can’t get clean out here. I don’t know how to get clean without going to rehab.’ And they kept telling me, ‘No, you can do it,'” she explains.
Then her children’s father, who had been absent for three years, suddenly reappeared and sought custody. When Mitzi realized her children were willing to live with him simply because “they had given up on me,” that was it. Something shifted.
“When I realized my kids were willing to settle for that, I was like, ‘I gotta get my shit together,'” she shares candidly. “That’s what made me realize I have to get help.”
Finding a Home at Davis Community Meals and Housing
After a 67-day stay at an inpatient rehab facility called Walter’s House, Mitzi found her way to Paul’s Place, a program of Davis Community Meals and Housing. What began as temporary shelter became the foundation for rebuilding her life.
“It gave me the next step to get my kids back,” Mitzi says of Paul’s Place. “If it wasn’t for Paul’s Place, I wouldn’t have gotten my housing next door and hadn’t got my kids back.”
During her five-month stay, Mitzi found more than just shelter. She found advocates like Harmony, her case manager, who fought for her housing voucher when others weren’t trying to help. She found employment, cleaning three hours a day for the organization that had helped her. Most importantly, she found a new sense of self-worth.
“I learned how to save money. I learned how to love myself and forgive myself,” Mitzi shares. “I learned how to be a better mom, a better person, a better daughter.”
The Gift of Community
Perhaps the most unexpected blessing for Mitzi was finding friendship and a chosen family. Through the program, she met Theresa, who became not just a friend but a sister.
“She’s been like my biggest supporter,” Mitzi says of Theresa. “Anytime I am going through something, I can always go next door, talk to her, call her. She always answers her phone.”
This connection extends to their children as well. “My kids love her, they love her kids… I never thought I’d have a second family.”
For someone who had learned to distrust others and put up guards, finding genuine connection has been transformative. “I know when I feel alone, that’s not a good place for me,” Mitzi reflects.
Looking Forward
Today, Mitzi proudly reports achievements that once seemed impossible: “I just moved into my own apartment. I bought myself a car. I have money in savings. I’ve never had that my whole life.”
With newfound stability, she’s considering returning to school and focusing on being the best mother she can be. When asked if she would change anything about her past, her answer reveals the wisdom she’s gained through her journey:
“I always say I wouldn’t change anything about my past because it made me who I am today, and I’m happy with who I am.”
The Ripple Effect
Mitzi’s experience has given her unique insight into how communities can better support those struggling with homelessness and addiction. Having experienced what it’s like to sleep in a tent and live in her car, she advocates passionately for more facilities like Davis Community Meals and Housing.
“I’ve lived in different counties, different states. I’ve never seen a facility like this that’s free – showers, laundry, all free, never,” she emphasizes. “We should build like five more of these. It’d be amazing.”
She believes access to basic services can interrupt the cycle of survival-mode crimes and create pathways to recovery: “If I had known about this place while I was in my active addiction, it may have helped me get clean faster because I would have connected with the ladies downstairs [Becky and Harmony]. They could have given me some sort of resource.”
You Get What You Give
Throughout her story, Mitzi returns to a simple but powerful philosophy: “You get what you give.” This principle guides her approach to life now, as she strives to remain positive even during challenges.
“If I’m negative, then that’s gonna make other people negative. So I try to remain positive,” she explains.
Through Davis Community Meals and Housing, Mitzi didn’t just receive services – she received dignity, community, and the chance to rebuild her life. Now, she gives back through her work with the organization, embodying the reciprocal relationship between receiving help and extending it to others.
As Mitzi’s story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: when communities invest in people with compassion and practical support, the returns are immeasurable.