When Carly Fazio first came to GLIDE, it was for a meal. She had just moved from Buffalo, New York to the Bay Area and was living without a home. For two years, she came to our Free Meals Program Monday through Friday. 

Meals opened the door to more support. Carly connected with our Health Access Treatment (HEAT) team and began receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services. She also joined women’s support groups, where she found something, she hadn’t experienced for a long time: being seen. Listening to other women share their own experiences showed her she wasn’t alone. Her struggles with recovery and housing were part of a much larger story carried by others in the room. That connection gave her the courage to keep showing up. 

A big part of Carly’s journey has been the relationship she built with Lauren Etchingham, our MAT Navigator. Carly describes Lauren not only as a supporter but as a true friend. Lauren listened when Carly needed to talk, reminded her of her progress when she doubted herself, and stayed consistent even on the hardest days. For Carly, that steady presence was like a lighthouse in rough waters, showing her, she wasn’t drifting alone and could always find her way back to shore. 

“Lauren has been there for my health, my emotions, everything,” Carly says. “She never gave up on me. GLIDE makes me feel like I matter. I don’t carry shame for what I’ve been through anymore. This feels like a second home.” 

Today, Carly has been in recovery for five months. After nearly two years unhoused, she is preparing to move into housing of her own. 

Carly’s story shows how a meal can be the first step, and how trust, care, and community through HEAT, with people like Lauren walking beside clients every step of the way, can turn recovery into a lasting future.