Over a decade ago Ivis began to use drugs regularly. Her life quickly spiraled down. She was arrested and signed over custody of her five children to her mother before being sentenced to jail.

After getting out of jail she moved in with her mother but soon ended up in a homeless shelter, where she stayed for nearly a year. In late 2005, Ivis came to Jericho Project’s Katherine C. Williams Residence (Kay’s House) in the Bronx.

Moving to Kay’s House was a pivotal moment in Ivis’ life. With the support of Jericho’s on-site staff, she has worked hard to maintain her sobriety. “Jericho got me talking. If I feel like I want to get high, I can always sit and talk with someone. It might be tough love but it is good help from good people.”

Ivis is also rebuilding the relationships with her mother and children that were severely damaged by her substance abuse. When her mother, who passed away recently, became ill in 2009, it was Ivis who became her primary caretaker. And today she is closer than ever to her five grown children. “I gave away my children to my mom because of drugs. Today, me and my kids have a bond. They are so proud of me – I’ve been off drugs for six years!”

Ivis is now working to manage her own healthcare issues so that she can graduate from Jericho to her own apartment. She has successfully completed the Jericho Work internship program and wants to go back to school. Her Career Counselor continues to work with Ivis to encourage her to meet her goals.

“I don’t think about getting high any more. I think about getting a job and making money. I love clothes!”