Milana, Graduate of Mama's House
Mama’s House alumna Milana has completed the highly successful Mama’s House “Pathways To Success” Program, and she is now ready and willing to advocate for other vulnerable women in our community.
Milana overcame a childhood marked by sexual trauma and abuse from a family member. Confused and ashamed, she kept the abuse a secret, which ultimately affected her relationship with her parents. Milana felt unsafe and uncared for, and anger started to build inside her.
In high school, Milana became involved with drugs, and at the age of 16, she attempted suicide and was admitted to a mental health facility. She was diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder and attended an outpatient recovery program for teens. She graduated from Indio High School but was still using drugs, and her relationship with her parents, particularly her father, deteriorated. By her late teens, she was battling addiction, homelessness, mental health issues, and rape.
She became pregnant at 21 and moved in with her boyfriend. She gave birth to her son Angel, who is now 3 years old, but he was born with marijuana in his system, so Child Protective Services was notified. They investigated and took no immediate action but warned Milana that any more incidents would result in her son being removed from the family. Then she became pregnant again and made what she recalls as the worst decision of her life: she had an abortion. “It was a horrible experience,” she says. “I ended up crying alone in a bathroom.” When she became pregnant yet again, she vowed to carry the baby to term, which angered her now-husband, and they ultimately parted ways. Knowing she needed a safe, supportive environment to heal and raise her kids, she reached out to Mama’s House.
“I’m really proud to say I went through the Mama’s House program and completed it because it is a tough program and not easy. They not only teach us responsibility but also accountability for our lives and the lives of the children we are bringing into the world.”
She and her two children recently moved out of Mama’s House into their own apartment in the Valley. It’s a big move, but Milana is now confident, capable, and looking forward to their life together.
In 16 months, Milana did not just find a home—she found her voice. The program taught her responsibility and gave her son the support he needed to thrive. Now a licensed aesthetician, Milana lives independently with her two children. As an alumna, she is dedicated to giving back, mentoring vulnerable women, and proving that, with the right support, healing is possible. “Mama’s House gave me my life back,” Milana says. “Now, I want to help other moms find their strength.”
