Stella, Community of Hope housing client and determined mother, understands the importance of holding on to hope in even the most difficult situations. Over the years, Stella has experienced many hardships — including Immigration issues, a house fire, and more—but today, you can find her happily settled into her new home with her two children after years spent separated.
In 2018, Stella Fontem left her native home in Cameroon, seeking refuge for her family and opportunity in the United States. She arrived with determination, swiftly navigating the legal process to secure asylum and employment. But her journey was full of challenges, starting with the heart-wrenching decision to leave her 11-month-old son behind with her mother. “I had to work hard to provide for my elderly mom and my son,” Stella recalled sorrowfully.
Navigating the complicated system of paperwork and procedures of immigration during the COVID-19 pandemic added layers of complexity to Stella’s journey. What was typically a process lasting 4 to 6 months now stretched into years, prolonging the separation from her son. The anticipation and longing weighed heavily on her heart.
Amidst the trials of adjusting to life in a new country, Stella found herself in an abusive relationship. Despite the pain, she found hope in the news of her pregnancy. Naming her daughter Blessing symbolized her resilience amidst adversity. She knew that she would need more stability for her family and began her journey as a single mother in the U.S., still hoping to reunite with her son.
Stella chose to pursue higher education and enrolled in the nursing program at UDC. She is set to earn her RN license by December 2024. Juggling the responsibilities of single motherhood alongside the demands of rigorous academic studies proved challenging. Stella vividly recalls the relentless balancing act: “I have to work, pay rent, drop off and pick up the baby…it is just so much.”
After an agonizing eight-year wait, Stella finally received the news she had been praying for: her son would soon join her in the United States. However, joy left quickly when their home was engulfed in flames just a month before his arrival. In December 2023, while attending to a patient, Stella received a distressing phone call about a fire at her home that abruptly interrupted her shift. “I’ll never forget the chaotic scene of fire trucks lining the street,” says Stella. “I only felt relief when I saw my daughter and she was okay.”
She is grateful for the swift response of the American Red Cross, Stella and her family found temporary refuge spending two full weeks in a hotel, unsure of what the future held. Through Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, Stella was connected to Community Hope, where she found stability and support. Moving into The Triumph, Community Hope’s short-term family housing, Stella found solace in a community that lived up to its name, offering her a lifeline of hope in her darkest hour. Here, families are provided with access to services in their community, 24-hour support as they plan to move to more permanent housing, and receive connections to Community Hope’s medical, dental, and emotional wellness care.
Stella shares how well her family connected while at The Triumph, noting that staff would provide snacks for the children, fun activities, games, coloring, and dancing which brought them so much joy. Fam-Club at The Triumph, which is a volunteer-led event three nights a week, became something her daughter, Blessing, looked forward to.
On February 2, Stella and her family finally moved into their own home in the heart of Washington, DC. With tears of gratitude, she reflected on her journey, recognizing the profound impact of Community Hope in her life. “Community of Hope provided me with a reason to believe that everything will be well” she stated. “I want to tell everyone out there who is struggling in the District of Columbia, that there is hope for us in the district, the district is not all about getting bad news, or violence but about HOPE.
