For 40 years, Good Counsel has been a refuge for pregnant mothers in crisis, offering them not just shelter, but a path to stability, independence, and hope. Since opening our doors in 1985, we have provided care, guidance, and a loving home to more than 8,000 mothers and their children, ensuring that no mother walks her journey alone.To honor this milestone, we are sharing 40 stories—real stories of strength, resilience, and transformation. Each month, we will post four stories from the mothers, house managers, and caseworkers who have been part of Good Counsel’s mission, giving a glimpse into the lives forever changed by your support.Follow along as we celebrate four decades of life-affirming work. You can read these stories on our blog at goodcounselhomes.org or by following us on Facebook @goodcounselhomes. Together, let’s continue to support mothers, save lives, and build a future filled with hope.

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Debra’s Story – A Journey of Strength and Resilience

Debra’s journey began in Harlem and continued through the Bronx, where her childhood took a challenging turn. At just eight years old, she entered the foster care system. Though the path was uncertain, Debra held tight to the bond she shared with her biological mother, and she remained grateful that—even through years of transition—she was never mistreated.

At 21, Debra aged out of foster care and was faced with an all-too-common reality: navigating adulthood alone, while carrying the weight of a new life within her. She was pregnant with her first son, David, and though determined to provide for him, she was left without a place to call home.

Debra found temporary shelter through New York City’s PATH program and remained there for about a year. Things seemed manageable—until life shifted once again. She was pregnant with her second child and, just as she began pursuing more permanent housing, she was told she had to leave the shelter. With no alternatives and two children depending on her, Debra spent a terrifying weekend sleeping on the trains. She remembers the fear most vividly—the constant worry that someone might hurt her or her son.

Then, in a moment that can only be described as divine, a stranger approached her. Debra still calls her “an angel.” This woman noticed her distress, asked if she was okay, and after hearing Debra’s story, handed her a number. It was the number for Good Counsel.

Debra says that even though she hadn’t prayed as often as she thought she should, it felt like God heard her heart. That same day, Debra was welcomed into Good Counsel’s care.

Not long after, with the staff’s help, Debra gave birth to a beautiful baby girl she named Journey. It was a name full of meaning—reflecting both the road she had traveled and the one still ahead. In the safety and support of Good Counsel, Debra was finally able to breathe, bond with her children, and begin to heal.

She didn’t stop there. With encouragement from the staff and a retired teacher who volunteered at the home, Debra began studying for her GED. She passed her exam and soon after enrolled in the Medical Assistance Program at the College of Staten Island. All the while, she worked part-time at a local CVS, balancing motherhood, academics, work, and household responsibilities with the strength of someone determined to rewrite her future.

With every step, Good Counsel was by her side—offering guidance, stability, and a network of support. Debra completed the medical program and secured a position at a medical office. Through Good Counsel’s budgeting classes and her own perseverance, she was able to save enough money to rent her very own apartment in Harlem—a one-bedroom space near the friends and family she had longed to be close to.

Today, Debra’s life looks very different from the uncertainty of those nights on the train. She is a proud mother of two, a working professional, and a woman who never gave up. Her story is one of faith in the face of fear, and of the hope that blooms when someone chooses to walk beside you.

Debra is, in every sense, a story of strength and resilience. And for her, as with so many others, Good Counsel was the turning point.

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