A summer of marked moments at HHD

Haven Homes of Detroit
Sep 7
3 min read

At Haven Homes of Detroit, we talk a lot about marking moments. Every milestone- whether it’s a phase-up, a new job, or a graduation- is more than a happy event. It’s a reminder of resilience, healing, and the truth that many of our residents never imagined these moments could be part of their story.

The summer of 2025 has been full of moments we’ll cherish for years. Each time we gather to celebrate, we’re reminded that many of our residents once believed these milestones were out of reach which makes sharing them now all the more meaningful. We’re honored to look back with you and celebrate some of our favorites from this summer!

Phase-Ups 🌟

This summer we marked two incredible phase-ups (the term we use when a resident reaches the criteria for the next phase of our program): one resident stepping into Phase 2 and another into Phase 3.

Both women have been working steadily toward their goals—building employment, growing financial stability, and moving closer to family reunification. For our resident moving into Phase 2, this has been a difficult journey, and we could not be more proud of the hard work she’s done to clear her legal record and move into her future with even more freedom!

Celebrating Alice Jay ✨

We also celebrated an amazing milestone with Alice Jay, our Lead Residential Specialist, as she hit 20 years of sobriety!

We surprised Alice at the house with all the residents and our team for a quick pizza party and time together. Alice’s journey is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, and her story continues to inspire residents and staff alike.

These moments of persistence, courage, and new chapters remind us that healing takes time, but it is happening every single day in our homes.

A New Chapter for Tish 💼

One of our favorite moments this summer was celebrating Tish, one of our Sisters for Life and graduate from HHD,who began a new job as an Anti-Trafficking Specialist at Avalon Healing Center!

Watching graduates from HHD continue to create impact in the survivor community is a beautiful reminder of why HHD exists. Our goal is not just to provide housing, but to be the foundation that women stand on as they build secure footing for their own lives and futures.

There are not enough words to express how proud and excited we are for Tish!

Shared with permission

Summer Graduations 🎓

Graduations are sacred at HHD. This summer we had the honor of celebrating two of them! For those of you who have been around HHD, you might remember the days we spent dreaming about opening our doors to residents. To celebrate two graduations this summer felt surreal, and it is truly a testament to our amazing team and residents.

🌿 In July, one of our very first residents graduated after two years in the program, marking her Sister for Life milestone with heartfelt reflections and joy. We will miss this new Sister for Life around the house and program, but we are cheering her on.

As she said at her graduation celebration:

“I love my sisters here and my staff, but we always have to keep pushing on because the best is yet to come.”

🌿 In August, our youngest resident graduated from HHD. From juggling school and work to faithfully saving for her future, she showed determination well beyond her years and became a role model for other residents. We are so proud of this lady: she is employed part-time, finishing college, and has a new, fully furnished and stocked apartment with the best view of Detroit! She knows what she wants from life, and her drive and commitment is truly inspiring.

We celebrated this moment with a full table of residents and most of the team out in our favorite Detroit neighborhood! It was the BEST evening—eating, laughing, reflecting, and enjoying being together for such an exciting milestone.

This summer reminded us that healing takes time and persistence, but it is always possible. Each phase-up, new job, and graduation didn’t happen overnight, it came through hard work, courage, and the steady support of community. Seeing so many celebrations this summer was a glimpse of what it means to move from merely surviving to truly thriving, and we are honored that HHD can be a catalyst and safe foundation for these marked moments.