Derrick and Brandy’s journey to stability began on a night they never expected. With no place to go, the family found themselves in the unknown and searching for hope. “We had been sleeping in the car for two nights,” Brandy recalls, her voice steady but full of emotion. Their lives spiraled into uncertainty as they faced homelessness while caring for their eight-year-old daughter, Ryann, who is on the autism spectrum, all while Derrick was battling Crohn’s disease.
“We were calling everywhere, but all the shelters were full,” Brandy explains. Their house had mold, and with Ryann’s asthma acting up, they needed immediate help. “We didn’t even know about Peggy’s Place until we tried COTS. When we came here, Rachel, one of the staff members, was truly there for us. She called around, found us a spot, and gave us the lifeline we desperately needed.” For the Smith family, COTS became more than a shelter—it was a community that offered more than a room–it offered hope, support, and a path to rebuild their lives. Their initial fears about entering a shelter vanished. “We thought we’d be in one big room with everyone running around, but it wasn’t that at all. They welcomed us, made us feel at home,” Brandy says. Ryann, despite the upheaval, found joy. “She didn’t even know we were homeless. She thought we lived in a hotel.”
Derrick, too, was deeply affected by the experience. “When we first arrived at COTS, it was a tough time for us. Ryann was sick, and not long after, I had to be admitted to the hospital because of my Crohn’s disease,” Derrick explains. “It was hard, especially since I wasn’t able to help out for those first two weeks.”
But COTS made a difference. “They supported Brandy, our daughter— and they helped me too,” Derrick says. He got involved in the Fatherhood Initiative workshops and met other dads who were going through their own struggles. “It was good to be able to talk to guys who understood what I was dealing with, and it made me feel like I wasn’t alone in trying to be a better father and partner.”
Brandy and Derrick both took advantage of the opportunities COTS provided. Eager to turn their lives around, they joined workshops that taught life skills, financial empowerment, and community building. “I signed up for everything,” Brandy laughs. “The workshops taught me about credit unions, managing money, and I even made lifelong friends. Bridesmaids I call them.”
Brandy’s growth continued with her enrollment in the Bridges to Tech program, a pre-apprenticeship IT course. Completing the program with perfect attendance filled her with pride. “It felt so good to finally complete something,” she says. “You know, life be life-ing, but we have life after life.”
For Derrick, the stability provided by COTS allowed him to start working again and focus on long-term goals. “Now, I’m working, we have a car, and we’ve got our own place. I’m in a much better place mentally,” he says. Derrick is planning to attend HVAC school, which has been a long-time goal of his. Together, the couple has begun making vision boards for their future, setting goals for their careers, marriage, and home.
Their lives took a surprising turn when Detroit rapper Tee Grizzley made a generous donation to COTS. “I got off work one day, and they told me we had a surprise guest,” Brandy recalls. “We’re sitting down, and Tee Grizzley walks in!” His donation helped the Smith family move into their new home and buy essentials. “But it wasn’t about the money— it was the fact that he thought of others and wanted to give back to his city,” says Brandy.
Today, Derrick, Brandy, and Ryann are thriving in their new home, fully furnished thanks to Humble Design. Ryann’s speech and social skills have blossomed in the nurturing environment of COTS, and Brandy’s passion for giving back has come full circle—she now works as a resident advocate at another shelter, helping women in situations she knows all too well. She’s paying it forward, using her experiences to help others. “I was given a blessing, and now I get to be that blessing for someone else,” she says. And that, more than anything, is what makes their story remarkable.
This incredible transformation was made possible by the unwavering support of our dedicated donors and partners. Your generosity fuels success stories like Derrick & Brandy’s family, providing families with the resources and opportunities they need to rebuild their lives. We are deeply grateful for your continued commitment to our mission, which brings hope and lasting change to so many. Your kindness creates brighter futures, empowering families to overcome adversity and achieve stability. Thank you for being an essential part of our community.
