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LeJourney was entered into foster care at the age of 2 years old.  She explains her birth parents were young and had three children, they were in and out of jail, and struggled with substance use.  She had been in 4 to 5 foster homes prior to being adopted.  LeJourney says that she did not have a positive relationship with her adoptive family and often times did not feel supported.  She states that “when I got closer to being 18, it was kind of like I was closer to being and adult and I had to get my stuff together.”  She knew she was going to be on her own but she was “definitely not ready.”  She felt “thrown into the world at age 18.”  Nervous about turning 18 and feeling overwhelmed with little support she “jumped into a relationship” and “became dependent on that person.”  There was so much uncertainty on how to be independent to include not knowing how to drive, not knowing how she would be able get to school and/or work, and at times not sure if she was able to buy groceries.  At one point she was even homeless during this first year of being an adult.  She explained, “the relationship was toxic but also a relief” for her since she had a place to stay and able to get her needs met.   
L.A.M.B’s Place would have been “an amazing thing for me during that time because of the support being offered and the affordable housing,” explains LeJourney.  She explains that she may not have entered the “toxic” relationship to get needs met because she would have “been able to reach out to someone if she had questions or a problem” to include “having guidance on simple things like buying groceries and paying bills.” Having a “place to call home” would have helped her “not constantly think about what I am going to do” and provided her an improved “mental state” and improved “self-love.”   A place like L.A.M.B’s Place “could have empowered me to focus on reaching my goals like working and going to school.”