Heaven's Story
Told From The Heart: Heaven’s Story
In late October 2025, I heard about SPY through a young man who was heaven sent. I met him on the patio of a homeless shelter that I was staying at. That day, I forced myself out of bed, tired and overwhelmed by the depression of poverty and unemployment. “Start with your hair. At least try to look presentable,” I thought to myself. I had been wearing a bonnet for weeks. The dorm room at the shelter had poor lighting so I took my mirror outside to the patio and began braiding my hair.
The young man sat beside me and introduced himself. We were talking about the shelter’s food when he mentioned SPY and told me about the quality of their meal offerings. A few days later, I was at SPY completing my intake to become a member.
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Before SPY, I struggled to afford daily necessities like toiletries, laundry services, and nutritious meals. I also struggled with my mental and physical health, and lacked access to job support. Now, thanks to SPY, I have somewhere I can get new clothes and wash them for free, receive hygiene products, and have three meals a day. Not only that, but I now have counselors I can confide in who keep me safe, a primary care physician to keep me healthy, and access to computers to submit job applications, do research, and print my resumes. Surprisingly, SPY stays open later than the library.
Wednesdays are my favorite days at SPY because there’s yoga and art workshops as well as my therapy sessions. Before becoming a member at SPY, I had been practicing yoga but struggling with maintaining consistency in my practice. Now, the instructor guides me through improving my mind-body connection with meditative yoga, and week-by-week, my practice improves.
The same goes for art. I recently experienced a major artistic block. I wasn’t able to create regularly because it was hard to focus on artistic expression while experiencing devastating economic conditions and family related trauma. The art instructor offers the coolest activities that promote self discovery, self growth and enlightenment. Consistently attending healing arts workshops is not only therapeutic for me but also helps to strengthen my creative routine and expression.
Heaven working on her art piece.
Early stages of planning.
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I feel that my case at SPY is managed in such good and helpful hands. In terms of employment, SPY just recently paid for my security guard courses and my case manager always sends me employment opportunities and job fairs I can attend. Additionally, SPY bought my non-slip shoes that were needed to participate in culinary training. The support feels endless. I’ve received books, gift cards, holiday gifts and so much more from SPY. They have truly kept me afloat.
Overall, I think that the biggest impact SPY has had on me is that SPY provided me with a community when I needed it most. When I moved to LA, I was escaping a deep loneliness. At SPY, I met people from so many different walks of life with different talents and wisdoms. Experiencing homelessness and poverty can feel so dehumanizing and embarrassing. At SPY, I’m surrounded by people who’re overcoming the same challenges as me and people who I can relate to without judgement. It feels good to see familiar faces who also recognize me every day. I celebrated the Christmas/New Year holiday season at SPY and I was surrounded by so much joy and love.
Heaven planning her solar system.
The final piece: Heaven's Solar System
I often think about where I would be had I not decided to get out of bed that day and do my hair. Would I still have met him and heard about SPY? Such a short interaction changed the trajectory of my life. That's why I say he was heaven sent, because he sent me to SPY and SPY has been such a big blessing.
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