“Reality Hit Really Quick”: Gretchen’s Journey from Step Up to Home

This summer, Gretchen unlocked the door to her first apartment. It’s in Brunswick, within walking distance of town, with most utilities included, a kind and thoughtful landlord, and room for her beloved cat. Getting there took a little over a year at MYC’s Step Up Housing, plenty of patience, and a level of determination that few young people are asked to find so early in life.

Gretchen wasn’t always so sure where she was headed. During her freshman and sophomore years at Morse High School, she made choices that led to serious trouble, including a suspension and the threat of expulsion. Problems at school added to growing tension at home with her mother, and her place in the family home became uncertain. She knew that turning 18 and graduating would mean she’d need to move out.

“Reality hit really quick!” she says. 

Gretchen decided to change course. She got a job, the same one she has held for almost three years now. She stepped away from old friendships that were pulling her in the wrong direction, even though it meant feeling lonely much of the time. Her sisters stayed a steady source of connection, and she’s still grateful for them. By graduation, she had a clear goal: to work and train in childcare for school-age youth. 

Asking for Help 

The arguments at home continued, and Gretchen knew that building a life for herself would require a safe place to land. So she did something that takes real courage: she asked for help. 

She went to her high school vice principal. A 30-minute vent session led to a meeting with the school counselor, and then to an introduction to Donna Verhoeven, MYC’s McKinney-Vento caseworker. Donna is embedded in RSU 1 and other local school districts, and she leads MYC’s Merrymeeting Support Collaborative for Youth Experiencing Homelessness. 

That chain of connections shows how powerful the partnership between schools and community organizations can be. School staff saw a student who needed support and knew who to call. MYC had someone already in the building, ready to help. Because the two work together, Gretchen didn’t have to navigate the system alone. 

Soon after, Gretchen toured Step Up Housing’s two dorm-style units, and she found the supportive home she needed for the next stage of her life. 

A House with Structure, and a Sister Figure 

Step Up houses up to 12 young adults, ages 18 to 24, who are working toward independence. For Gretchen, the most important part of the program was Kirsten Latter, the Step Up Housing Manager. 

“Kirsten helped so much during a time when I needed support,” Gretchen says. “She was like an older sister to me.” 

Kirsten was a listening ear, and she also kept the house running with chore charts, room inspections, and monthly meetings to review each resident’s goals. Gretchen already had a strong sense of personal responsibility, and Kirsten’s structure reinforced it. Gretchen also saw how much that structure helped other residents who were still learning the habits of shared living. 

Building Momentum 

Things began to fall into place. Gretchen made friends with peers who, like her, were preparing for adult life, including roommates who were working and saving money. Her employer, who had hired her during her junior year of high school, offered to pay for further education and training in childcare. Those courses will lead to further education at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) and additional credentials in her field, all while she keeps her current job. 

A Place of Her Own 

Gretchen started looking for her own apartment almost as soon as she moved into Step Up. In Maine’s tight housing market, that search was hard for a young woman just starting out. Kirsten connected her with low-income housing resources, but the legwork was all Gretchen’s. She turned down units with every utility billed separately and places that were run-down. 

Because Step Up gave her a stable home in the meantime, Gretchen had time to research, tour, and wait for the right place instead of settling for the first available option. Her patience paid off when she found the Brunswick apartment that checked every box. 

What Gretchen’s Story Shows 

Gretchen’s success belongs to her. She chose to change direction, asked for help, kept the same job for years, and searched for housing until she found the right fit. The synergy between MYC and RSU 1 provided a foundation strong enough for that effort to grow: a caring adult at school who knew where to turn, a caseworker who connected her to housing, and a house manager who offered both structure and kindness. 

Now Gretchen is building a career supporting school-age kids, the same age she was when life got difficult. She understands better than most how much a steady adult and a safe place can matter.