10/25/2026
One of the greatest privileges of Emma Hamburg’s role as HRDC Marketing & Visual Design Coordinator is getting to sit down with the people who use our services, hear about their lives, and share their stories. Through our Where Would We Be Without HRDC? series, Emma helps tell the stories behind the services we provide. Today, she’s sharing Beth’s story.
When I arrived at Beth’s apartment for our interview, there was a bowl of Halloween candy waiting on the table. She’d gone out and bought it just for my visit.
Beth had spent the morning making sure everything was in its place. In fact, she’d waited nearly two months to invite me over. After years of experiencing homelessness, she wanted her apartment to feel like a home before sharing her story. For many of us, decorating a living room, welcoming a guest, or choosing where to put a new plant are everyday things we take for granted. For Beth, those choices mean everything.
Beth has experienced homelessness on and off since she was 14. With support from HRDC and community partners like PACT, she recently moved into an apartment of her own. The first night, she slept on the floor. But her support team quickly helped her find a bed, chairs, a desk, etc. and piece by piece, the apartment began to feel like hers.
Today, there are art supplies, plants with names, a comfortable couch, and a kitten named Taco-Nacho. There’s room to rest, focus on her health, and simply feel safe.
”I’m not worried about where my next meal is coming from at this point. I’m not worried about where I’m gonna get water,” Beth shared. After years of uncertainty, having a door to close and a safe place to return to has changed her daily life.
When I asked about her past, Beth was clear: “I’m not homeless anymore. So I’m gonna leave the past behind.” “Let’s go on with the future, because my future’s looking kind of bright at this moment.”
Where would Beth be without HRDC? Her story reminds us that housing is more than a roof overhead. It’s safety, independence, and the freedom to make a space your own. For Beth, it’s plants, art, a kitten, and a bowl of Halloween candy waiting for a guest. It’s home.
Read the full story @ link in bio