Our Featured Story of Hope:
Lyndsey Marr was struggling with her mental health. She had lost her right to parent her four children. She had given up trying to escape domestic abuse and trying to stay sober.
“I pretty much was done,” Lyndsey said. “I was afraid that (my partner) would kill me, so I wanted to kill myself first.”
That’s when Raven Huddson knocked on her door.
Raven, a senior counselor in Unity House’s Mental Health Housing program, was the only person who seemed to care, Lyndsey said. On time, every month, Raven was there, encouraging her to believe in herself.
“She was struggling with things she had no control over,” Raven said. “She was about ready to give up.”
Today, Lyndsey has celebrated a year of sobriety. She and her cat, Hazelnut, live in a safe apartment. She has a full-time job helping others overcome addiction, and she has a shot at regaining her parental rights. Learn how, with support from Unity House, she found the strength to move forward.
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Robert's Recipe for Success
After leaving an unfulfilling job, Robert Youngs, 38, was unsure of where he would land next.
Diagnosed with intellectual disabilities, he had long struggled with communication. It was hard to connect with coworkers — and even harder to ask for help.
He faced challenges that made finding fulfilling, inclusive work seem out of reach. But with the support of Unity Employment Services, Robert enrolled in a specialized food service training program that gave him both the technical skills and the self-assurance he needed to succeed.
Today, he’s learning even more at Mamma Maria New York Pizzeria in Auburn, eager to learn more and take on new challenges.
Life in Full: Tony's Story
Tony Amerman has always faced challenges with resilience, never letting disabilities hold him back.
Born in Texas, he and six of his seven siblings entered foster care, determined to stay together. They eventually found a home in Candor, New York, joining a blended family of 14 siblings.
As he grew older, his family recognized his need for extra support, leading him to Unity House in his late teens. There, he gained independence, joined the Special Olympics, found a job, and married Gale Campbell, becoming the first couple in Unity House’s supportive apartment program.
Life was moving forward. Then, a difficult diagnosis came.
Safe, Heard, and Empowered: Heather's Story
At 13, Heather Gansert was given her first drink. That same year, she was introduced to drugs and was raped at a party. What followed was 34 years of addiction, abuse, and survival. She lost herself in substances, endured daily violence, and nearly died at the hands of an abusive boyfriend.
But that’s not where her story ends.
With the help of Unity House, Heather began to heal, reclaim her life, and reconnect with the one person she cared about most: her 26-year-old son.
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