Sacramento portrait photography and commercial advertising photography at the 19J Midtown Apartments

Katrina’s Story: Rebuilding Hope

When Katrina left her boyfriend, young daughter in tow, her mom and dad took them in and helped raise her daughter. But years later when her father died and a family secret was exposed, Katrina’s family fell apart – along with her life.

She began drinking to cope with anxiety and depression and eventually found herself homeless, sleeping on an alcoholic friend’s couch.

“I realized I was trying to kill myself with alcohol, and it wasn’t working,” Katrina said. “I was suffering so badly and I remember thinking I should get a gun but I wouldn’t have the courage to shoot myself. So I decided to go to rehab instead.”

Through her rehabilitation program, Katrina learned about Women’s Empowerment. She enrolled and began to regain the self-esteem and courage she had lost. When she graduated from the initial nine-week job-readiness program, she joined Women’s Empowerment’s REstart paid training program in property management.

Sacramento portrait photography and commercial advertising photography at the 19J Midtown Apartments

“I had a friend who had done property management,” Katrina said. “I love people and I like the community aspect of it, so it sounded like a good fit for a new start.”

Upon finishing the training program, Katrina was hired as one of the first property managers to live and work at the new innovative 19j Apartments in Midtown Sacramento. 19j builder, Nikky Mohanna, has committed to hiring five property managers from Women’s Empowerment’s REstart program each year for the next 10 years, providing each with invaluable work experience, a competitive salary, and an apartment in the building.

“I think this partnership is awesome,” Katrina said. “Nikky had a beautiful vision when she thought of hiring women who didn’t have a chance to have our own place in an A-list property. I love downtown life and my own little space.”

With a fresh start at life, Katrina also is finding a fresh start with family. Her daughter is proud of the changes she has made, and her sister recently came to visit.

“All of these wonderful things are happening that I didn’t expect,” Katrina said. “I love my life now. It kind of feels like I’m dreaming. I feel like I have somewhere to belong and people who care. If you’ve been as low as I have and picked yourself up and gained the things I have, you know anything’s possible.”