“Fresh Start has empowered me and made me realize what I’d lost sight of. I refocused, and because of that, I’ve succeeded…the support is what we need. We need someone to hear us, someone to be there for us, and Fresh Start has done that for me, 110% and more.”
For a long time, Tina* carried more than most people could imagine. A mother of five children, ages 10 to 22, she spent years pouring into everyone else, quietly letting the weight of outside opinions and self-doubt chip away at the woman she knew she was before. By late 2025, she found herself living in a homeless shelter, wondering how she ended up there.
“I came to this program broken, basically. At my wits’ end. Even though I did have all of these acquired skills. I forgot about it, because life happened.”
Her first encounter with Fresh Start was almost accidental. She came in for a Dress for Success clothing voucher and, as she was leaving the center, a copy of the Fresh Start magazine caught her eye. She tucked it into her backpack and didn’t think much about it. A few days later, when it tumbled out of her pack, something made her stop, curious to learn more.
She went to the website, discovered the Fresh Start core values, and read the success stories.
“I thought, ‘Okay, I want to be one of those [success stories].’ I want to be in that magazine because I’m like those women.”
Tina enrolled in Fresh Start’s Construction Safety course with a goal that felt deceptively simple: start something and finish it. It had been a long time since she’d been in a classroom and she was filled with self-doubt. But something shifted the moment she walked in.
“When I came to class, all my doubts faded away. I knew I was actually doing something. I had other ladies around me in similar situations, and we were all striving for the same things. If they can do it, I can do it.”
Tina successfully completed her career training and earned her certificate in Construction Safety program. She became the first Fresh Start women in her cohort to be hired as a Flagger. Even with her newfound courage, excitement and employment, obstacles stood in her path. Just days before reporting to her new jobsite, she learned she was going to lose her shelter housing and apartment deposit. Tina immediately called the Fresh Start team about her urgent situation and asked for advice and support. With her recent program success and job offer, it was merely a matter of time for Tina to be in a position to make ends meet. Fresh Start provided supplementary funds to help her sign a lease before she received her first paycheck.
“Finding a place to live was an aspect of my struggle. Because of my determination and Fresh Start’s support, I was able to persevere through it all. I’ve never had support like this.”
What Tina gained from the program was far more than a certificate—it was a rediscovery of herself. For years, she had been people-pleasing and shrinking herself to fit others’ expectations, burying the capable, driven, and confident woman she once knew.
“I had forgotten that Tina. But she came out, and now the sky is the limit.”
Completing the program reminded Tina of her own strength and resilience. Despite significant obstacles, she persevered, proving to herself that she was capable of far more than she had imagined.
“I didn’t know I was still capable of this. I completed this program despite the obstacles thrown my way, and I kept going. Now, I want to test myself and see how far I can go.”
Today, Tina stands with a renewed sense of confidence and self-worth. She’s already set her sights on advancing her career and becoming an equipment operator.
“With everything I’ve accomplished, I’m here standing and taking off my mask and standing as myself. I know my worth. I know what I can do. I believe I can do way more.”
Perhaps most meaningful is the example she is setting for her children. Tina hopes they see that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, and that no matter how difficult life becomes, it is always possible to move forward.
“Because of my pride and everything I’ve been through, I thought I could stand on my own. But in reality, I couldn’t. And the first time I reached out for help was to Fresh Start, and I’m so happy that I did.”
Her advice to other women considering that same first step is simple but powerful:
“The day you choose to not listen to the outside world and be who you are, own who you are, and move forward, then the sky is the limit.”
After 90 days in her role at Southwest Barricades, Tina earned the right to use a company vehicle and obtained an additional traffic certification. In early May 2026, she was invited to the Street Maintenance Worker apprenticeship orientation and continues to climb towards her goals within the construction industry!