Purpose is Sometimes Found in Plain Sight
As the South Los Angeles Regional Coordinator for PRPSN, Gloria brings both lived experience and a deep understanding of the impact peer respite can have on individuals navigating mental health challenges.
Understanding Peer Support and Respite
Peer support is a model of care rooted in shared lived experience. It is based on the principle that individuals who have faced mental health challenges can offer unique, empathetic guidance and encouragement to others going through similar struggles. Peer respite is an extension of this philosophy, providing a short-term, voluntary stay in a supportive, home-like environment. They are run by individuals with lived experience, offering an alternative to hospitalization for those experiencing emotional distress. The goal of peer respite is to create a setting where guests can regain stability, develop coping skills, and experience genuine human connection without the constraints of traditional mental health settings.
Called to Peer Support
Gloria believes her introduction to peer support was not traditional—it was divinely led. On New Year’s Eve, she found herself at a crossroads, questioning her future and seeking guidance. Then, through an unexpected encounter with a man named Paris, she was introduced to Project Return. “It was something I had been doing before I even knew what peer support was,” she recalls. “It’s a mindset for me, the way I attend to people on a regular basis.”
What started as a conversation about faith turned into a career-defining moment for her. Encouraged to take our Peer Support Specialist Training at Project Return, Gloria took a leap of faith despite initial self-doubt. The journey wasn’t easy—missing an interview, struggling with computer skills, and overcoming personal obstacles—but she persevered. With support from PRPSN staff and completion of her training, she landed a role that would not only change her job options but her entire outlook on life.
Overcoming Trauma and Finding Purpose
Gloria’s past is marked by hardship. “I grew up in a very traumatic lifestyle,” she shares. “I don’t know what ten blue days in a row look like.” Adopted yet abandoned, she faced abuse, substance use, and a lifetime of instability. For years, she said she feared growth because she was never allowed to flourish.
Her work with PRPSN changed that. “I’ve learned how to advocate for myself, how to accept help from others, and how to truly walk in my purpose,” she says. She’s gained technical skills, confidence, and a strong presence in the community. Through peer support, Gloria has built meaningful relationships and established herself as a leader in the mental health space. “I’m not just known for Project Return—I’m known for being Gloria.”
The Role of Peer Respite in Healing
One of the most impactful moments in Gloria’s journey came when she personally needed PRPSN’s peer respite services. “My mom passed away and I couldn’t handle anything,” she recounts. “I went to Hacienda of Hope, our Long Beach respite, because I just needed to be accepted.”
For the first time, she found a space where she didn’t need to justify her emotions, where no one tried to ‘fix’ her, and where unconditional support was the foundation. “I was able to grieve, to breathe, to feel love,” she says. “It was a love I had never really felt before.”
A New Home for Healing in South Los Angeles
Now, as PRPSN prepares to open a new peer respite house in South Los Angeles, Gloria sees firsthand how much the community will benefit. “South LA faces so many challenges—poverty, housing instability, mental health crises. People need a safe place where they can just be, without judgment or expectation.”
Unlike traditional mental health facilities, peer respite houses provide a homelike environment where individuals in crisis can receive support from people who have walked similar paths. The new South LA respite house will be a sanctuary—a place where healing happens organically, where people can find community, and where they are reminded that they are not alone.
The Next Chapter
For Gloria, this new house represents more than just an expansion of services; it’s hope for a community that has long been overlooked. “I fight to keep this job because I know the power of peer support,” she says. “I know what it’s like to be lost, to feel unheard, and I know what it means to find a space where you’re truly accepted.”
As PRPSN takes this next step, the organization—and leaders like Gloria—continue to transform lives, one peer connection at a time. The new peer respite house in South LA will be an expansion of Gloria’s testament, it will not just be a house; it will be a home for those seeking refuge, understanding, and the kind of love that changes lives.