Home and Sanctuary

In the day to day of our work at SYM, we often wonder whether our efforts have impact. Every so often however, we are privileged to get a glimpse. This week, I received this from a young woman SYM has known for many years. As I consider the challenging moments of 2020, her testimony provides needed encouragement and hope.

In my life, nothing has ever been stable, or certain. I’ve faced struggles with mental health, addiction, homelessness and often, hopelessness. In that darkness, SYM is the only home and stability I’ve ever known.

I was a difficult person to deal with, but there has been peace, safety, encouragement, and space to be who I am, without judgment- flawed, frustrating, time consuming, and sometimes, wonderful! I have been given space to be myself and room to grow.

While I felt discarded by society, SYM was always there to allow for me to feel what I’m feeling, planting seeds of strength, hope, faith, and love. Slowly, those seeds rooted and from those roots, I’ve found myself enveloped in unconditional love. And then…

…after 22 years of homelessness, mental health issues, abuse, substance use, and unspeakable heartache, I found a call to action. I co-founded a shelter in 2013, and am now a social worker. I’ve turned my wounds into wisdom, and I carry parts of what SYM has done for me into my work within the community.

I have been aged out of SYM for many years now, and as SYM staff and volunteers came and went, with each departure, I had terrible anxiety and concern- would all the support I was getting leave with them? It never left. It is woven into the very structure of SYM.

All these years later, when I find myself overwhelmed or feeling uncertain, I’ll sit near the Drop-in Center, under a beautiful Elm tree that provided shade on many hot days and I breathe a little easier. I know with certainty that if I knock on the office door, someone will answer. If I have needs, or am in danger, I will be met with support, and treated with dignity. SYM is still my safe place, a sanctuary.

My story is not unique- countless people who have engaged with SYM have moved on to become social workers, taking the radical compassion we were shown by SYM and integrating it into our work. There are no words to adequately express the gratitude I have for SYM, or the impact SYM has had, and continues to have, on my life.