Hi, my name is Linda. Growing up was tough. With my father in jail, and my mother constantly working, my four siblings and I grew up quickly. At 16, I was pregnant and living on my own.

 After just four months, I lost my  baby. To cope with my grief, I  turned to marijuana and alcohol,  then straight to cocaine and  heroin. As soon as my 18th  birthday rolled around, I was  incarcerated for what was to be  the first of 5 times. My life  became a series of cycles;  sobriety, substance abuse,  incarceration, and parole. I  gained and lost; three more  children to the state, a brother  to an overdose, and my freedom to the judicial system. I couldn't find love for myself, so I looked for it in external sources.

 As soon as I got to the Boston Rescue Mission, I knew the cycle was ready to be broken. Everyone is so positive here; it's like one big happy family. There's a lot of honesty in our groups, which helps me to be honest with myself. I wake up every day with a smile on my face, knowing that I'm not going to be sick. Because of the Mission, all of my boys are back in my life and I'll be able to leave with a home, a driver's license, a good job working with computers, and a new outlook on life.