Safety is only the beginning. At Kenton Women’s Village, one woman is discovering what becomes possible when survival is no longer the goal.
When Breanna* arrived at KWV three months ago, she carried far more than a few belongings. She carried decades of fear, uncertainty and the weight of rebuilding a life after leaving an abusive relationship.
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“It takes a Minute to Feel Like You’re Not in Survival Mode.”
For nearly 30 years, Breanna* lived in an abusive relationship.
Leaving wasn’t a single decision. It took five attempts before she found an opening during the COVID-19 pandemic and finally walked away.
From the outside, many people would have assumed she had everything she needed. She had a successful career as a technical writer, earning nearly six figures. She drove a luxury car. She lived in a beautiful home and owned a closet full of clothes that reflected the life she believed she was expected to maintain.
What they couldn’t see was the control.
As the primary breadwinner, she still couldn’t access money without raising suspicion. When she left, she brought little more than what remained of her retirement savings.
“It shocked me how hard it’s been,” she said.
Searching for a Safe Place
The months that followed were anything but easy.
She stayed in shelters, temporary housing and supportive programs while trying to rebuild her life. Along the way, she returned to school, studied digital storytelling and continued searching for somewhere she could finally begin to settle.
People she met through Stone Soup told her about Catholic Charities of Oregon and Kenton Women’s Village.
Three months ago, she arrived.
“I feel safe here,” she said. “It takes a minute to feel like you’re not in survival mode. It took me three months.”
Then she smiled.
“But this model works.”
More than a Tiny Home
When Breanna talks about what makes KWV special, she doesn’t start with the tiny pods. She talks about the people.
“The staff,” she said without hesitation. “It’s so important to be able to trust and rely on them.”
That trust has allowed something unexpected to happen.
She’s creating art again. She spends time drawing and editing video projects inspired by coursework completed at Clackamas Community College and Pacific Lutheran University.
Outside her pod, vegetables are beginning to grow. Corn. Lemon cucumbers. Chili peppers. Small reminders that growth often starts quietly.
Inside, she’s making the space her own.
“It’s wonderful having everything under one umbrella as far as needs being met so you can succeed,” she said. “I am now flourishing.”
Dreaming Again
Breanna hopes to find meaningful work and eventually move into a place of her own.
For now, she isn’t rushing.
Kenton Women’s Village has given her something she hadn’t experienced in years — the opportunity to heal before having to survive the next crisis.
That stability has allowed her to begin imagining a future defined not by her fear, but by possibility.
As Catholic Charities of Oregon continues its Summer of Stability campaign, stories like Breanna’s remind us what stability can truly mean.
Sometimes it looks like a tiny home. Sometimes it looks like vegetables growing outside a front door. Sometimes it simply means waking up each morning knowing you’re safe. And from that foundation, everything else becomes possible.
Help more women like Breanna find stability
Your gift to our Summer of Stability campaign provides safe shelter, compassionate support and pathways to permanent housing for women experiencing homelessness and others rebuilding their lives.
*Not her real name