Support and Care for Victims of Violence and Addiction
Many domestic violence victims do not feel like they can leave dangerous situations because they cannot support themselves financially. Many of them do not have the skills or education needed to earn a livable wage. They need assistance to get out of poverty and become financially independent. Even if they have the skills and career to financially support themselves, many times they have to leave everything behind and damage is done to their credit, so they still need assistance in some areas while they heal and get back on their feet. Hope Connection comes along side of these victims and helps them to tailor a plan to fit their needs, improve their education and career skills, heal emotionally, and become healthy members of society.
Support
By Helping With Independence
Some people come out of long term rehab and need assistance getting a job and transitioning into an Oxford house with a deposit and first week's rent, or they just end up on the street again. Most of these victims of abuse and substance use get lost in the transition and revert back to what they know unless they make life changes with accountability.
Support
Through Transition Assistance
Hope Connection offers rent assistance, help with utilities, day care, career growth and fees, counseling, and personal needs. We help them move, when needed, for safety and also partner with The Green Chair Project to provide furnishings for their housing. We are not just assisting financially, but emotionally with counseling and support groups, as well as helping these individuals find their passion and purpose and pursue a career that will enable them to fully support themselves and their children. We also connect them with sponsors who can help them start a business or mentor them to teach them a skill set.
Support
By Meeting Physical Needs
Hope Connection interviews potential clients and they fill out an application. We partner with them to tailor a plan to take them from where they are to where they want to be. Then we hold them accountable to that plan and assist them along the way. Success means they are not repeating the same unhealthy cycle. They are healing from emotional wounds in our free support groups and classes, they take advantage of the counseling we help to provide, they improve their education and career skills so they can move out of poverty into financial independence, they are accountable with a budget and receipts, they become an empowered and confident member of society.
Support
Through Accountability
Testimonials
Hope for a Future
I am a single mother of three boys. In 2017 I
separated from my now, ex-husband who was abusive to us. In 2010 I dropped out of school due to me being a
homeless teen and lack of support from my family. In 2012, I became a nursing assistant and when I separated
in 2017, I was taking continuing education classes for my GED; I was unable to afford the test payment.
...
In 2018 I was referred by someone at Hope Community Church to Hope Connection and since then, they have been helping me as I transitioned from leaving an abusive marriage to now, safe! Hope Connection has helped me and my three boys tremendously in so many ways and I have been blessed to have them in our lives. Hope Connection assisted me with paying for my GED tests and has helped me financially with achieving my CCMA. Hope Connection has also helped my boys and I stay safe, and it has been an honor to be part of an organization that has embraced us and welcomed my boys and I ! In 2020 Hope Connection assisted me with relocating to get away from my exhusband.
Numerous of times I tried to get help from Wake County court system for protection and was turned down because "I didn't have proof." I tried other organizations and at the time no one was able to help me. In 2018 the order expired, and I was pretty much left on my own to protect myself. After him violating the order numerous of times, he was found guilty on all. April 2020, I moved again and 3 months later he found me and broke into my car which led me to relocate to a undisclosed location temporarily. If it wasn’t for Hope Connection, there is no telling where me and my children would be. I have never been afraid of my life and I have never feared my children future. When all failed, Hope Connection has helped me get to that safe place.
Hope Connection has provided the help we needed to have a home, made sure I had transportation. For 6-8 months, Hope Connection has paid my bills, help me with food when I didn’t have money to feed my children. Hope Connection helped me get furniture, gas, household items/ accessories and so much more. I have received counseling, took classes that Hope Connection offer for victims of abuse and I never in my life have I experienced such light during such dark time. This organization is truly a blessing!
Female Sponsored Client
African American,
Raleigh, NC
Cared-For Volunteer
I was introduced to Debra Barkett, President of Hope
Connection International, at a very difficult time in my life. My son and daughter-in-law were both addicted
to heroin. My mother passed away while me and my husband were dealing with the situations their addiction
had created. I started attending a Grief Support group and the Loved Ones of Addicts support group that Hope
Connection offered. To know I was not alone in my struggle as a mother with an addict son and to be able to
learn how to care for myself first was a great help to me.
...
I was so impressed with how Debra encouraged and truly cared for me personally I decided to become involved in the organization as a volunteer. I started helping in the store occasionally and in the office with small administration tasks. I now volunteer every Tuesday in the store, train new volunteers, assist with the Grief and Loved Ones of Addicts support groups, assist with administration tasks, and whatever else may need to be done. Working in the store has opened new opportunities for me and I have learned so much.
I especially enjoy talking with the customers and volunteers. The staff and volunteers have become like a family to me. I want to support the community I live in and Hope Connection International gives me a place to do so.
Volunteer
Cary, NC
Empowered by Grace
I am so grateful to even compose this letter in
regards to Hope Connection International. I never knew this kind of organization existed and that it would
have as much impact on my life as it did. Before I came into Hope Connection, I was homeless and absolutely
burnt out. I was displaced from home at the age 17 by my abusive drunk dad who attempted to commit suicide
two days later. From that point, I sought education to be the only way to survive independently. While
starting my education, I found myself to be totally unequipped with little to no support from either parent
and started becoming more independent. For years I struggled with supporting myself and getting an education
with no help.
...
After my third year, I was unexpectedly graced with a child, which added to my list of big responsibilities. From that point, I went from one hard situation to another. Since my child has been born, I moved through three different states, held a few jobs, provided all possible time, money, and energy towards the situation but was not able to establish any real stability and became homeless for the fourth time in four years.
Right before Hope Connection came into our life, I was able to get another job through my University’s Work Study Program as a librarian to generate some income to get me and my child into a small apartment. Covid quickly prohibited me from keeping that job and I was facing another homeless situation right after signing the lease. Through the unseen hardships, I walked into Hope Connection International to purchase a couch for us to sleep on and a desk to be able to do school work. But little did I know I was walking to an organization that would literally save my life and offer help because of the chronic abuse I suffered throughout childhood and growing up.
I had so much faith to better myself and my situation I did not see how much abuse I was working through. Hope Connection helped me realize that, and has been supportive every step of the way.They have been an answered prayer and I would love to continue working with them and be of assistance to anyone else who has had similar situations.
I would like to go on and on about how they have graced us, but I don't want to take all of your time to write a book. From offering me a job, keeping me from homelessness, child assistance, and abuse therapy sessions. Thank you and I hope that I can, together with them, empower survivors of abuse and addiction. I want to dedicate myself to helping people like me and come from similar situations.
Male Sponsored Client
African American
Thankful and Blessed
I am a single parent with three children between the
ages of 11 and 16. We are originally from New York. In 2019, through many court battles we were able to
leave New York and move down here to North Carolina. My ex husband is a raging alcoholic who became abusive.
My children and I have a five year order of protection against him.
...
I was referred to Hope Connection through someone at the Apex Police Department. Through Hope Connection, my children and I have been beyond supported. My children started with the Caring for the Vulnerable Child program, which is the first step to help children after they were exposed to violence/trauma. It was a safe mentoring environment, where trained mentors met with my children weekly.
I am so thankful they were able to build a safe, affirming environment with stability and consistency so they felt safe and comfortable. My children also took part in art therapy classes, which they really enjoyed. My oldest now sees a therapist weekly one on one through the generosity of Hope Connection. They also include my family in the Angel Tree gift giving at Christmas.
As for me, I have been involved with the Mending the Soul Support group. When we first moved here, we lived with my sister for three months, but then were able to get an apartment on our own. We needed to be on our own but had nothing but our clothes, each other and safety. Hope Connection partnered with the Green Chair foundation and enabled us to furnish our apartment for free. I was able to pick out a couch, reclining chair, a lamp, kitchen table, and 4 chairs, plates, cups, mattresses for all three children, bed frames, bedding, dressers, shower curtains, and towels. It was an amazing experience! Hope Connection even provided us with a washer and dryer! My children and I are truly blessed to have Hope Connection in our lives. Thanks to Hope Connection and all the support they provide!
Female Abuse Survivor
Apex, NC
Transformation
When I left my husband back in 2017, after 43 years
of physical, mental and emotional abuse I wasn’t aware of the extent of damage the abuse took on me and my
life. I was consumed with fear and unsure what to do or where to go. All I needed at that point was a
divorce and that would end it all.
...
But it didn’t. I was still going through the anxiety and depression. Then through God’s intervention I came across Mending the Soul. It was when I took the support group for the second time that I began to understand the ramifications of abuse and the various types of abuse and abusers. My mind was blown away because it described my life, how I ended up with an abuser, the symptoms of abuse, it wasn’t my fault, and mostly God didn’t intend for me to have this life.
I finally was able to understand my anger issues, anxiety, shame, depression and others. I learned I have PTSD from all of this. It explained for me my temperament, mood swings, instability and more. Learning all this was a relief to me. I felt I am on the path to recovery and that was a sign of relief. I have to say I didn’t do it alone. I had an amazing group of women that I owe a huge thanks to, Evadne, Cheryl, Debbie, Michele, Jackie, Pauline and Angie for their love, support and encouragement. I never would have had the opportunity to me these women and do life with them for 5 months in 2022. I cherish that time with them.
I have since moved to Texas and I am at a happy place in my life for the first time in almost 5 decades. I am a different person and Mending the Soul was just the beginning of my journey to healing. I’ve had a counselor helping me with my anger issues for some years now and upon leaving NC she told me I am not that same woman that walked in her office 6 years ago. Thank you Debra for your love, support and ministry.
Evelyn
Blinded By My Love for You
Letter to my Abuser
When I first met you, it
was love at first sight. I knew right then and there that I wanted you for the rest of my life. I wanted a
family with you. You were my hero.
...
Many years of struggles and drug addictions, all the red flags were there, but I was blinded by my love for you.
You lied over and over again. Taking off and not returning for hours, sometimes days, and then one time, months. You broke my heart repeatedly, over and over again. But I always forgave you. Blinded by my love for you.
Fights, lots of fights, and always it was my fault that you acted like you did. Never once did you ever take accountability for your actions. I believed it was my fault all the time. Blinded by my love for you.
You made so many promises, so many times. But the drinking and drugging never stopped. You just got better at hiding it. And I didn’t see it. I believed you every time. Blinded by my love for you.
You were so abusive to me and your kids. You chased the kids away with the way you were and never once did you ever apologize for it. Even after you chased them away, I still stayed. Blinded by my love for you.
All the names you called me, and the feeling of walking on eggshells on a daily basis. Even after you nearly killed me and getting two black eyes, I still stayed. Blinded by my love for you.
I prayed for you all the time, in hopes that God could show you the way to be a better man I cried every night for you. Never once giving up on you. Blinded by my love for you.
But after years of abuse...and a bloody nose...I decided to walk away. The hardest thing I ever had to do in my life. And now I am here to tell you. I no longer carry the guilt and shame of your demons. It is not my fault...and it never was. You take care of your own demons now.
Because I am happy and free, no longer “blinded by my love for you.”
HCI-Sponsored Abuse Survivor