I Knew I Was Safe Here: How A Journey Through HopeTree Sparked a Life of Resilience and Hope

When Liz first arrived at HopeTree’s Therapeutic Group Homes, she had no idea where she was or why she had been brought there. Her aunt had dropped her off at the courthouse without warning. No suitcase. No goodbye. Just uncertainty.

“I was definitely really scared,” Liz recalls. “I didn’t know what was happening or where I was going. But looking back, coming to HopeTree was the best thing that could’ve happened.”

That day in 2020 marked the beginning of a journey that would lead Liz toward healing, self-discovery, and a future she never thought possible.

The Reality of a Traumatic Childhood

Liz had already endured more instability than most kids her age. She spent time living with her parents, both of whom struggled with substance use, and later with an aunt in a household filled with neglect and abuse. “I don’t think anyone realized how bad it was,” Liz says. “Until it all came crashing down.”

When her aunt abruptly gave up custody, Liz was thrown back into foster care—this time with more complex needs than a typical placement could handle. The Department of Social Services referred her to HopeTree’s Therapeutic Group Homes.

“I didn’t think I was a bad kid, but that’s how people treated me,” she remembers. “At HopeTree, they treated me like someone worth helping.”

A Second Chance at Stability

At HopeTree, Liz found more than just a roof over her head. She found a safe, structured space that gave her the tools to start processing the trauma she’d been carrying for years.

“There was a therapist available every day, we had group sessions, and staff made time for one-on-one conversations too. That was huge,” she says. “They actually cared."

After a few months, Liz transitioned into a foster home, but when the placement became unsafe, she turned back to the one place where she had felt secure.

“I called HopeTree and said, ‘Please come get me.’ And they did, within the hour,” she says. “That meant everything.”

Growth, Healing, and Belonging

Her second stay at HopeTree lasted nearly a year. It gave Liz time to stabilize emotionally, reconnect with school, and begin to build the life she wanted.

“Leaving the second time was hard. It felt like I was leaving home,” Liz admits. “But I also knew I was ready.”

She transitioned to a supportive foster home and began to thrive. She took college-level classes in criminal justice. While in high school, she began seriously thinking about her future and started taking college-level classes in criminal justice. Now, she's not just thinking about it—she's doing it

Looking Ahead with Purpose

Now 18 and living in Lynchburg, Liz attends Longwood University, where she studies social work and minor in criminal justice. Her goal? To help kids just like her.

“For a long time, I didn’t think I’d even graduate high school,” she says. “Now I want to be the one who shows up for someone else.”

She’s inviting several HopeTree staff members to her graduation to celebrate this milestone with people who remained in her corner through it all.

“They made a difference that I’ll never forget,” she says. “They reminded me that I mattered. That I was worth fighting for.”

Resilience in Action

Liz sees herself now as someone who has endured more than most but who never gave up.

“I’d say I’m resilient,” she says. “A lot of people who go through what I did don’t make it, but I did.”

Her journey is far from over, but the foundation laid at HopeTree will always be a part of who she is.

“HopeTree gave me safety, structure, and the people who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself,” Liz says. “I’ll carry that with me for the rest of my life.”

Hope That Grows

Liz’s story is a living reminder of what’s possible when a child in crisis is met with compassion, structure, and love. Through two placements, countless therapy sessions, and a team that never gave up, Liz didn’t just survive—she bloomed.

Now, she’s ready to help others do the same, because Liz isn’t just a survivor; she’s proof that hope can grow.