Christmas is often a painful time for our homeless neighbors, as they ponder bridges burned, families lost, and memories of happier holidays long past. Nina, 23, is one of them. She doesn’t know where she’ll be this Christmas, but most likely she’ll spend the holidays with her beloved dog at her campsite near a marsh by the Springs Rescue Mission.Nina says some of her earliest and most painful memories are of the molestation she endured when she was 8. “That’s when I started drawing myself away from everyone,” she says. “After that, I got diagnosed with a bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, and depression, which I still struggle with. All my siblings were considered the golden kids. I was the screw-up.”Nina says she never told anyone about the molestation. Her emotional disabilities only grew worse. All through childhood, her best friend was Cali, her pet golden retriever.“Cali was born without a front right paw, so she was handicapped, like me,” Nina says. “Cali was a big help my whole childhood. She was my ultimate therapist. I was 15 when she died. After that I kind of gave up.”Nina left home at the age of 17 and she has been mostly homeless since, “cowboy camping,” she says. She sleeps outside with little more than a bedroll, a sleeping bag, and her black Lab.

Help to Get Off the Streets

In winter, when the weather turns too cold, she comes to Springs Rescue Mission for shelter, meals, and warm clothing. The Mission has also helped her get into therapy to deal with her past and is now helping her take the necessary steps to get into a place of her own — helping her get necessary documents, bus fare to get to appointments, and food stamps.

“This Christmas, I’m glad Springs Rescue Mission is here,” she says. “They’ve given me direction and the support I need to eventually get off the streets.” And Christmas might be a lot better this year, since she’ll likely be at the Mission.Maybe next year, Nina will experience her own silent and holy night, where all is calm and all is bright.