Resident Spotlight: Choosing Joy Led Jessica Home

Jessica is intentional about choosing joy. Though she has navigated many unpredictable obstacles throughout her life, her commitment to choosing joy and gratitude never not wavered. She has inspired others around her to do the same.

A Foundation of Strength, Almost Derailed

Jessica, an Arizona native, was born prematurely and lives with multiple chronic health conditions and disabilities. Just months after her birth, her parents divorced, and she was then shuffled between the two households.

Eventually, her grandparents stepped in to provide the stable and supportive home she needed to thrive. Her grandfather, who was blind, taught her to focus on her abilities not her disabilities. Her grandmother played a crucial role in her educational success.

As a young adult, Jessica worked hard to create her own stable life. She pursued higher education, married, and bought a home. But when her marriage ended, she faced the challenge of finding a safe, affordable place to live on her own. With limited options available, she began applying for affordable housing communities—a process that typically takes years. Jessica wasn’t able to wait that long, she needed stability now.

Jessica lives with her dog, Princess Leia, at FSL’s Sweetwater Gardens in Phoenix.

A New Beginning: Jessica’s Journey to Sweetwater Gardens 

In 2020, after applying for affordable housing options across Maricopa County, Jessica was navigating looking for a stable home. She was bouncing between friends’ couches and hotels, when the stress of it all finally took its toll—Jessica went into cardiac arrest.

Miraculously, Jessica survived. Through the support and strength of a community who believed in her, she persevered.

Now Jessica is celebrating her first Christmas as a resident of FSL’s Sweetwater Gardens, a peaceful sanctuary in the heart of Phoenix, and a place she feels truly at home. With a sense of peace and security, she is in a space where she is thriving. She’s even set up a beautiful white tree with red cardinals to honor her favorite football team!

“It gives me peace that I’m finally making a home.”

Jessica
FSL Sweetwater Gardens Resident

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