The Caseworker, the Coffee, and the Chaos: A Day in the Life of an Advocate

There’s a moment, every single day, when I think: “Surely this is the weirdest thing that will happen today.”
And then—without fail—the universe laughs.

Advocating for women in recovery means juggling about seventeen roles before lunch: therapist (unlicensed but emotionally taxed), chauffeur, emotional-support barista, life coach, housing coordinator, and occasionally, a human shield during toddler meltdowns.

Some days I’m explaining to a client why her lease is still legally binding (even if Mercury is in retrograde). Other days I’m negotiating with a caseworker who somehow didn’t get the fax that was definitely emailed, printed, scanned, and hand-delivered by a small army of exhausted moms.

But here’s the truth: these “barriers” aren’t just system glitches or paperwork purgatories—they’re reminders of how hard women fight for stability in a world that rarely makes room for them. The barriers look like endless forms, waiting lists, and that one government portal that only works on Internet Explorer circa 2009. The women, though—they look like resilience in motion.

They show up. Even when the world tells them they shouldn’t.

At Promises Sober Living, we walk this path with them. Sometimes that means decoding Medicaid mysteries or calling ten therapists before one answers. Sometimes it’s helping a mom hold onto hope long enough to see her child again. And sometimes it’s just sitting quietly with someone who’s tired of being strong all the time.

When you support Promises—whether it’s through a donation, sharing our mission, or just remembering us when you see a mom juggling recovery and motherhood—you’re helping break these barriers brick by brick.

Because the truth is, the system wasn’t built for them. But we are rebuilding it—one “you’ve got this” and one housing application at a time.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what advocacy looks like in real life: it’s coffee-stained, heart-heavy, occasionally hilarious, and absolutely worth it.

Because every woman deserves a place where the promises she makes to herself can finally come true.