Testimonials

Emily

“Esperanza gave me hope again.”

Emily came to Esperanza Services at the age of 15. She was a runaway and sexually active. Emily ran away from home because she her home life was unsettled and chaotic. As she said, she never got along with her parents and her parents did not get along with one another.

Emily stated that the streets felt like “home” to her. It was a way to escape from a tense home life and it was also where she was able to secure drugs, cigarettes and other additive substances.

Esperanza Services has taught Emily many things throughout the years. Emily says that she is now more independent and her money management skills have improved. She also has been attending school and likes it very much. Although she struggles with school, her counselor, Georgina Hernandez, continues to encourage her.

Esperanza Services encourages Emily to express her feelings and seek out her goals. Emily is interested in fashion, computers, dancing and singing. She is also trying to seek spiritual guidance at this time.

One of Emily’s longtime dreams is to have her own childcare center, get married and learn how to cook. Esperanza continues to encourage Emily in fulfilling those dreams.

“For the first time in my life, I feel that anything is possible,” Emily told us. “I owe that to Esperanza Services.”

Linda

“I know Esperanza is there for me.”

Linda first became a client of Esperanza Services about 9 years ago. Linda had come from a difficult marriage where her husband was abusive both emotionally and mentally. Linda’s husband was also very controlling with the kids as well.

As a result of staying with her abusive husband, Linda became involved with alcohol and drugs. Finally, Linda became tired of the suffocating life with her husband. She was not even allowed to speak with family and friends. Eventually, she decided to leave her husband.

After Linda left, she began living at a woman’s shelter. At the shelter, Linda heard about Esperanza Services. Linda met with a representative at the Eastern Los Angeles Regional Center and they referred Linda to Esperanza Services.

Esperanza Services has helped Linda in many ways. Esperanza Services has provided Linda with housing and counseling. Esperanza also helped her obtain Social Security benefits and provided her with assistance with the paperwork for her divorce.

Besides Linda, Esperanza Services has also assisted her daughter with housing, benefits and counseling. Esperanza Services has also helped Linda’s son with some serious legal issues he encountered at the age of seventeen.

Linda says that she is extremely grateful for the several individuals at Esperanza Services who have assisted her during trying times.

“It has been do wonderful to me to know that I have a place that I can turn and that place is Esperanza,” said Linda in a recent interview. “I know they are there for me.”

Veronica

'Experience has been great because Esperanza is there when I need help. I have become more familiar with parenting and living. I would recomment Esperanza to my friends. I Enjoy working with my counselor because I became more familiar with Living skills and a lot gets done with parenting.'