November 25, 2025

Kindness Overcomes

Alice is known for her kindness and generosity, but mental illness has created challenging obstacles along her path. 

Alice enjoys tending to the garden at UTSH. August 2025.

After a particularly bad breakdown, Alice returned to her family’s house only to learn that her brother-in-law, in an effort to keep Alice and her breakdowns at bay, had obtained a restraining order against Alice. She violated the restraining order in a state of psychosis and promptly turned herself in.  

After five months in jail, Alice was released and placed in an independent living facility (ILF) where she began psychiatric therapy. However, after a few months, Alice no longer qualified to live there. Just as she felt hope dissipating again, she learned about an opportunity to move to transitional housing at UTSH.  

Life changed for Alice after moving to UTSH. She continued therapy and participated in support groups. The staff offered her continuous support and kindness. “There are people who are good, there are people who understand, there are people who work with you to make it better for you. And that’s what I found here,” she said.   

A few months ago, Alice went before a judge to address the charges on her record from violating the restraining order. Thanks to a letter written by Raul, UTSH’s Program Manager, her record was expunged. “Her positive energy, reliability, and eagerness to grow makes her a valuable member of both our program and the broader community,” Raul wrote.  

UTSH helped Alice suppress her fears, regain her confidence, and prepare for independent living. August 2025.

Through counseling and community activities, Alice has prepared herself for independent living. Just a few weeks ago, Alice moved into her own apartment. 

Because of her mental illness, Alice used to live in constant fear. “But with the support that I have, especially from Uptown Safe Haven, it’s really different,” Alice said. “To actually be in an environment where you learn to live in your own place makes it so that you have a better outcome when you do get there.” 

Uptown Safe Haven is a transitional housing program that provides supportive services to chronically homeless single adults with moderate to severe mental health issues. To learn more about the incredible work of UTSH, visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/uptown-safe-haven-1.     

For more information, contact Adrienne Wilkerson, Communications Director, at awilkerson@ecscalifornia.org