Sheila, a proud Third Ward native, found her home at The Gray in 2025. From uncertainty to belonging, Sheila’s journey shows what’s possible when hope meets housing and community.
Sheila fell on hard times and spent six years experiencing homelessness. At her lowest, she lived out of her car, until someone close to her sold it without her knowledge. With no belongings and nowhere to go, she moved between family homes and shelters, longing for a place she could afford but unsure where to start.
Everything changed after a visit to the Navigation Center in summer 2025, where she learned about New Hope Housing’s newest community, The Gray, just up the street from where she lived in her twenties. She scheduled a tour and held onto hope for a fresh start.
Today, Sheila lives on her small Social Security income and wakes up each morning in her own apartment at The Gray. She spends her days connecting with neighbors, visiting the music room, and finally feeling safe. Sheila loves that her new community still feels like the neighborhood she grew up in. The vibrant colors and historic photos of the Eldorado Ballroom and legendary jazz and blues artists remind her of where she began, and just how far she’s come.
"I love it here. I love the quiet. It’s my own space where I can get up and cook if I want. This community has made the neighborhood so much better than it was when I was in my 20s," Sheila shared.
