After struggling unsuccessfully to fit in as a teenager with a mental illness, I came to Gateway completely lacking in hope and self confidence. Thanks to Gateway, I have now achieved what I thought was impossible. I've completed my GED, am working part-time at WalMart, and living in my own apartment.

After obtaining a Masters Degree in Education, and a decade of working as a residential counselor, mental illness shattered my life and I found myself in jail, confused, hopeless, and without a place to go. With the help of Gateway, I have now begun to put my life back together.

I became very manic after experiencing a bad reaction to my medication and wound up in Central State Hospital's Maximum Security Forensic Unit. I was at the hospital for many months because I had no place to go and no other program would accept me because of my history. Gateway was the only place that was willing to give me another chance. With Gateway's help, I am now living in an apartment in the community, working part-time, and going to school. I could not have done this without Gateway.

Before coming to Gateway, I lived in several group homes and did not like having other people make decisions for me. At Gateway, I learned how to be responsible for myself. I now have everything I always wanted my own apartment, a job, and a boyfriend... all because of Gateway.

Gateway is the answer to my prayers for my son. After living with me all of his adult life, I worried continually about his future. I am so grateful that Gateway is teaching him how to live on his own. I now know that he will be okay when I am no longer around to help him.

When I turned 18, my foster mother told me I had to leave because she would no longer be paid for taking care of me. I had no place to go until Gateway agreed to help me. There I found the support and caring I needed to become and adult and learn the skills I needed to live on my own. Gateway is the best thing that happened has happened to me in a long, long time.