Allegra stood still, soaking in a moment she once thought impossible.

In her new kitchen, she smiled, picturing quiet nights of cooking and sharing meals with Theon, her 10-month-old son. To her right, Theon was crawling across the floor, giggling with joy. For the first time in a long time, everything felt safe and calm.

Just seven months earlier, Allegra and Theon were homeless. Now, this determined mom can tuck her son in at night – in his own bed, in a place they can finally call home.

And it’s all because of you – and the support you provide through New Generation. You helped show her that a hard past doesn’t have to mean a hard future. Today, there’s joy in her home – and hope in her heart.

Losing Her Way

Allegra grew up in the North Country, the oldest of three kids raised by a single mother.

Her childhood was typical, marked by playing with friends, attending school dances, and spending time at the mall. After graduating from high school, she had a decent-paying job, a long-term boyfriend, and a simple, stable life.

But at 33, everything changed.

Allegra got caught up in the local drug scene. She lost her job and license. She’d get sober, then relapse, a vicious cycle that was slowly consuming her.

“I was drifting through life, without a purpose,” she shares.

Then she got pregnant with Theon. She hid the news from family and friends. When it was discovered, DCYF gave her a choice: go to treatment, or lose custody of her son.

She chose treatment.

Allegra spent four months at a local recovery center, where she lived with Theon. But when she completed the program, she had nowhere to go.

That’s when her caseworker told her about New Generation – a Catholic Charities NH program that helps pregnant women and single mothers facing homelessness find shelter, support, and a new beginning.

It would soon become the place that changed her life forever.

A Door Opens

Allegra and Theon moved into New Generation in February 2025. While she was skeptical at first, she knew she had made the right choice by the end of the first week.

Allegra worked with staff to set clear goals for moving forward. She graduated from an intensive outpatient program, a big step in her journey to recovery. She got her birth certificate so she could start applying for jobs and access benefits. She worked on getting her driver’s license and found childcare for Theon.

Then came the biggest step: applying for housing.

Two months later, the call came. A two-bedroom apartment was available.

They moved in this past July.

Now, for the first time, she has a home where she can cook for her son, watch him play with his toys, and take walks through the neighborhood – just the two of them.

New Purpose

Now sober for a year, Allegra has her sense of purpose back – to be the best mother she can be for Theon and ensure he doesn’t go down the path that she did.

“I want to keep him happy and provide a good home for him, making sure he grows up with a good set of morals and values,” she shared. “He is my sense of purpose.”

Her next goal is to go back to school and one day pursue a career in graphic design.

But for now, she’s grateful for her son, her apartment, and the donors who make dreams come true through New Generation.

“If it weren’t for New Generation, I definitely would not be here now,” she shares. “It opened up so many doors for me and Theon. We are both incredibly grateful.”