Alyssa’s perseverance and triumph over adversity is inspiring. Alyssa’s experience with Aviva as a resident at Wallis House is one she credits with providing an amazing sense of home and a stabilizing foundation, rich with great kindness and wise guidance from Wallis House staff, which replenished her hope and fortified her determination to build a safe, stable, happy life for her and her young daughter.
In 2018, Alyssa was recovering from childbirth when the abuse she had endured by her partner escalated. At an especially vulnerable moment Alyssa recognized that remaining in their home while coping with a destructive and dangerous partner was not right for her or her infant daughter and that she must leave with Gemma* to ensure their safety although it meant they had no alternative home and few basic belongings. In the following half-year, with a newborn, almost no resources, no job, and an unfinished education, Alyssa found sporadic shelter in tenuous situations and unsafe neighborhoods.
Although she was depleted and afraid, Alyssa did not give up hope. She pursued services for people experiencing homelessness through People Assisting The Homeless (PATH), an organization with which Aviva partners at Wallis House.
Once Alyssa and Gemma found shelter in supportive housing through PATH, Alyssa was motivated to return to school to pursue a college degree. Life was looking up and Alyssa was excited to be on her way toward achieving her goals. Then, in the very beginning of March 2020, on the eve of the COVID pandemic, when the program where Alyssa and Gemma were living was closed for renovation, they were relocated to Aviva’s Wallis House.
Alyssa sees the move to Wallis House as an amazing blessing. Not only were the challenges of buying and preparing food and ensuring daily necessities offered within the secure, clean, well-managed residence, she was able to continue progress toward her degree with remote access to her community college classes from the safety of home. Wallis House ensured safety, health and wellbeing for her and for Gemma, while they experienced comfort, compassion and connection. Alyssa believes that the human relationships at Wallis House enriched her deeper sense of security, determination, and faith that she would overcome the obstacles, pain, and loss of the past to live independently.
After a year of healing and growth as Wallis House residents, Alyssa and Gemma left Wallis House for permanent housing. Once they were settled in their own home and Alyssa completed her AA degree, she took the next big step toward her educational goals and was recently accepted to her dream school, UCLA where she plans to continue her education in healthcare
Alyssa recently wrote a long and heartfelt letter of thanks to Wallis House’s Director Maricela Echeverrii to share how deeply grateful she is for her good fortune to have lived at Wallis House with Gemma at such a vulnerable and pivotal moment in their lives. Alyssa shared that she still experiences moments of sadness about her past and a wariness about the future, however, she concludes her message with optimism saying, “I am very positive about the future, the troubling past is only a learning experience and a reminder of how far I’ve come.”
Alyssa arrived at Wallis House with deep aspirations and the courage to pursue them. Wallis House provided the refuge and resources to overcome devastating circumstances. She credits Wallis House with a renewed belief in the goodness of people to care for one another and her own ability to thrive. Today, Alyssa is excited as she is confident that she will flourish.
*Aviva’s clients’ names have been changed to protect their privacy