Hayley has been at Mustard Seed Shelter for just over a year. She remembers clearly the day she arrived: August 20, 2025. She had been referred to Emmaus House by Tri-Cap but had only been at Emmaus House for a week when she discovered she was seven-and-a-half months pregnant. She gave birth to her son, Haze, not long after she arrived at our home.
Originally from Flint, Hayley struggled with drug addiction for six years. “I was a meth user and I was in and out of houses, whether ‘bandos’ (abandoned houses) or living with other addicts or drug dealers … I just was going from place to place, basically, and wasn’t really stable anywhere. I didn’t talk to any of my family. All my friends were addicts. I have four felonies for drug possession. I went for treatment in Flint but that didn’t work. As soon as I got out, I relapsed. After my last arrest in January 2025, Tri-Cap was exactly what I needed. Now that I’m sober, it all feels like a blur. I was sick of living that way and I needed something to change.”
Tri-Cap is a probation residential center that provides an alternative to incarceration for non-violent offenders. The center also provides addiction treatment.
Hayley has worked hard since coming to Mustard Seed. In addition to caring for Haze, who just celebrated his first birthday, she attends recovery meetings on Zoom and will be 20 months sober on Sept. 16. “Things are going very well for us but I only recently got off probation and I’m not sure what I’m doing for housing yet – I got denied for my criminal background,” she said.
According to Hayley, her immediate goals are to stay sober, improve relationships with family and get on her feet with a stable job and safe housing. “My ultimate goal is to get into General Motors because that’s where my mom and stepdad work and they’ve been there a really long time,” she said. “I know you get really good insurance and a 401k and my son would get insurance, so that’s very important to me. I have a background working in food service and have done some factory work.”
Hayley shared her experience at Mustard Seed and how it has impacted her life. “It’s stable, and they don’t rush you to leave. They don’t have unrealistic expectations. They are really accepting – and my son is just so loved here. I am, too, but he’s a baby, so of course they’re gonna love him more because he’s just so cute. I don’t feel like they’re judging me for my past or making me feel out of place.”
Looking toward the future now, Hayley is thankful for the staff and volunteers at Mustard Seed who help her and other guests become more self-sufficient and work toward achieving their goals. “They want us to set our own appointments, and they make sure we have our identity documents and health insurance. They also help with rides and with housing – because of my record, everything is more challenging. I need to learn more about what my options are,” she said. “Haze isn’t why I got sober, but he’s great motivation to stay sober. I’m not sure what I would do without Mustard Seed supporting us on this journey.”