Story County local Rachelle, also known as Shelley, shares her story of overcoming hardship while she navigates life’s challenges and victories. While her story is marked by ups and downs, it echoes resilience and hope.

Born and raised on a small farm near Ames, Shelley and her siblings faced early tragedy when their father died in an accident. Raised by her determined mother, Shelley learned firsthand about perseverance.

“Mom did really well raising us. We moved to Marshalltown in 1999 after Dad died. We moved into a small house and were just trying to get by.”

Beneath the veneer of stability, while growing up, Shelley battled with feelings of turmoil from early childhood trauma. Memories of her father’s violence and harrowing experiences of assault would haunt her through her formative years and into adulthood.

“I started getting in trouble when I was eleven. I started skipping school, and things unfolded from there.”

In her late teens, Shelley sought comfort in her friends and boyfriend. In the course of a few years, her romantic relationship unraveled as her partner struggled with addiction and declining mental health, which sadly ended in his suicide. The devastating loss left Shelley with emotional scars that she carries to this day, affecting her ability to form and maintain healthy relationships throughout her adult life.

“Every relationship since then has been progressively worse.”

Since the birth of her son in 2011, Shelley’s life continued to spiral. The culmination of prior abuse, toxic relationships, and her own struggles with addiction led to Shelley losing custody of her boy and becoming homeless.

“I felt like a terrible mom, that I didn’t deserve to see him.”

Determined to break free from the shackles of addiction, Shelley embarked on a journey of recovery, seeking solace and support from organizations like The Bridge Home.

At The Bridge Home, Shelley found strength in community and received the guidance she needed to find a home and confront her past. Despite setbacks and challenges, Shelley remains determined to build a better life for herself and her son.

“My relationship with my son is better now than it’s ever been.”

Shelley is currently making strides in the Steps Program, facilitated through Community & Family Resources in Ames, and has one semester remaining to earn her associate’s degree.

We are so proud of Shelley’s progress in her journey to recovery and well-being. Her tenacity inspires others to believe in the possibility of transformation.
“Everybody at The Bridge Home was nice, very nice. I didn’t want to leave, but they could see that I was taking the steps necessary to help myself. It’s nice to know that there are people who care.”

If you or someone you know might benefit from our services, call us at 515-232-8075. Whether it’s help with emergency shelter or housing assistance, we can help or connect you to the support you or your loved one needs.