When Kim first arrived at Springs Rescue Mission, fear followed her everywhere.

She had never experienced homelessness before. Just months earlier, she had been living a quiet, sheltered life marked by marriage, routine, and familiarity. But after her husband passed away from prostate cancer, Kim’s world unraveled.

Desperate for safety, Kim searched online for help. That’s when she found Springs Rescue Mission.

“I was hysterical,” she said.

“I had never been homeless before, and I was afraid.”

But when she called the Mission, she was met with calm reassurance.

Inside the Mission, Kim began healing physically, emotionally and spiritually. She finally felt safe again. Her anxiety softened. She began to rediscover herself in the wake of life-shattering loss.

“For the first time, that cloak of fear started falling away,” she said. “And I’ve grown tremendously.”

Her healing was both internal and external. For someone who had lived a largely isolated life, community was unfamiliar territory. Yet at Springs Rescue Mission, Kim began forming relationships she never expected.

“I’ve never had female friends,” she said. “Now I have two.”

It was a small but meaningful step toward reclaiming her identity.

Faith has always been part of Kim’s life. Raised Baptist and later baptized Methodist, she doesn’t confine God to denominational boxes.  

“I just love the closeness I have with Him,” she said.

During this season of upheaval, her faith deepened. Attending church, listening to others’ testimonies, and reading Scripture helped her see that her circumstances did not define her future.

“Just because I’m in this situation doesn’t mean I have to remain in this situation,” Kim said. “As long as I have faith in the Lord and believe His Word, everything is possible.”

Kim is learning what it means to stand on her own. Life on her own is, but still a terrifying departure from her past as a homemaker.

“I’ve always been taken care of,” she admitted. “So providing for myself now is new… but it’s exciting.”

Every morning, Kim begins her day the same way — by looking up at the sky and thanking God for another day. Gratitude has become her anchor. Even in moments of fear or uncertainty, she carries a quiet joy.

“He created a joy inside of me that I keep regardless of what I’m going through,” she said.

That joy doesn’t stay hidden. Kim has become an encourager at the Mission, reminding others not to give up on themselves or on God. Hope spreads when people hear her sharing words of faith or praying quietly.  

She also has a new reason for joy – her own apartment, a tangible sign of God’s provision in her life. Kim now dreams of a future filled with freedom — traveling the country in an RV, hiking mountains, visiting lakes hidden just beyond view. More than anything, she hopes her story will remind others that transformation is possible.

“Don’t give up on yourself,” she said. “And don’t give upon the Lord.”

If Kim’s story encourages you, we’d love for you to join us for a special event in conjunction with nationally renowned photographer Aaron Anderson on Friday, May 1^st at Meanwhile Back in downtown Colorado Springs. Hope Springs Forth: Healing After Homelessness is a First Friday art experience showcasing photos of Frank and other beloved neighbors whose stories include Springs Rescue Mission.