Lisa remembers the feeling of running cross-country in high school, pushing forward stride by stride alongside her sisters, determined to reach the finish line. Years later, that same determination continues to guide her as she works toward stability, recovery, and a fresh start.
Originally from Warren, Massachusetts, Lisa and her three biological sisters were adopted together as young children. Growing up, she was active, athletic, and loved sports. She and her sisters often placed among the top runners on their high school team, an experience she still looks back on with pride. But life outside the track came with challenges.
At just 16, she and her sisters joined the U.S. Army Reserves, but due to declining mental health, she ultimately returned home to finish high school. After graduating, she moved into an apartment and started working. But partying and substance use gradually became a larger part of her life.
In her early adulthood, Lisa became a mother. When her son was still a baby, a police call to a party resulted in him being placed in the custody of her adoptive mother. Years later, while Lisa was incarcerated, her mother formally adopted him. Lisa has not seen her son since he was a baby. Today, he is 12.
Over the next decade, Lisa completed treatment programs in Worcester while struggling with substance use. Five years ago, she decided to come to Boston in search of a new path. Today, Lisa is nearly two months sober and living at the New England Center for Homeless Veterans while she works toward securing housing of her own.
Through a recommendation from her workplace, she discovered St. Francis House and was connected to Seeds of Change, our dual-diagnosis day treatment program. Now participating in the program for the second time, Lisa says the community and support she’s found there have made a meaningful difference. “I’ve gone to other day treatment programs before, and I never had such friendly and welcoming and kind, caring people,” she says. “They really engage with us and help us out. I’m not afraid to ask questions, and I’m not afraid to be wrong. They’re always there to help me.”
Her days are full and structured. Most mornings begin in our Recovery Support Center, followed by group sessions in Seeds of Change focused on learning new ways to cope with stress and emotions. In the afternoons, Lisa heads to work through a local program, where spends her shifts helping clean public spaces in Boston’s Newmarket neighborhood, safely removing trash and hazardous items from the streets. She has now been in the program for six months and is already looking ahead to what comes next — possibly in public works with the City of Boston.
In just a few weeks, Lisa will graduate from Seeds of Change. As she continues her recovery journey, she plans to keep meeting weekly with her therapist while working toward stable housing. Like the races she once ran, the road ahead will take endurance. But Lisa is moving forward with strength, support, and a renewed sense of purpose, with St. Francis House by her side every step of the way.
