Valaria & Jeremiah’s Story
When Valaria first heard about Kingdom Causes Bellflower, she wasn’t really looking for us directly. It was just a passing suggestion from her mom, who is friends with our Executive Director Andrew. She had spoken to Andrew and after that conversation, had thought Valaria might find some useful resources at our Community Center. At the time, Valaria was piecing things together. She was staying with her mom after a rough stretch in San Diego, where stable housing and a support network felt out of reach. “It was rocky,” she told our Director of Housing Programs, Jason, when he sat down with her for an interview. “Extremely rocky. It’s one thing to go through it alone, but having a child adds another layer to it.” For Valaria and her son Jeremiah, every step forward felt like they were climbing a mountain.
That all started to change when Valaria decided to follow up on her mom’s suggestion. She met with Andrew, who took the time to sit down with her and hear her story. That conversation turned into the start of the intake process for Margaret’s House. It wasn’t just a formality, Andrew and the care team saw how much Valaria and Jeremiah needed a stable foundation, and they worked with her to make it happen. As it turned out, the timing couldn’t have been better: KCB had just finished renovations on the second bedroom at Margaret’s House, thanks to the support of our donors and partners, which opened up space to house another family. Soon after, Valaria and Jeremiah were moving in, stepping into a freshly prepared room that felt like a new beginning for her. A real fresh start. And it wasn’t just a roof over their heads either, it was a lifeline. Within a month and a half, Valaria started checking off wins that seemed impossible before. The biggest one for her so far was getting Jeremiah into school within their first week there. “It gave me a sense of purpose,” she said. Suddenly, she wasn’t just surviving day to day, she was building something, and not just for herself but for her little boy too. Her confidence grew, her faith deepened, and she found herself pushing harder than she ever had before.
It wasn’t just the big milestones that made the difference. Smaller moments, like figuring out potty training with Jeremiah, turned into victories too. Valaria lit up when she mentioned Amanda, one of our Margaret’s House Care Team members and Andrew’s wife. Amanda, a mom herself, just seemed to get it. She didn’t just help with the practical stuff, she became someone Valaria could talk to, and someone who understood the weight of parenting through uncertainty. “Having someone like Amanda who knows what it’s like to be a mom made a huge difference,” Valaria shared. Those kinds of connections, the ones that go beyond a checklist, mean everything.
What really set Margaret’s House apart for Valaria was the community. “When you start out not knowing anyone, it’s comforting to have people walk alongside you,” she told Jason. As Valaria got to know the staff, she found they struck a balance, pushing her just enough to keep her moving forward, but stepping back when she needed space to figure things out. Whether it was a heart-to-heart with someone like Amanda or the calm, welcoming vibe of our Community Center, Valaria found a space where she felt seen. “Some places are so strict about intakes and paperwork,” she said. “Here, it feels open. It makes it easier to feel like you’re part of something.”
When Jason asked what she’d say to the donors and partners who keep Kingdom Causes going, Valaria’s answer came straight from the heart: “Thank you. The time and effort you put into supporting this program is truly paying off. As a single mom, having access to these resources has been life-changing.”
It’s not just about safe housing for her, like that roof over her head, it’s about the faith and confidence she’s gained, the goals she’s set and crushed, and the knowledge that if she stumbles, there’s someone there to help her back up.
Valaria and Jeremiah playing at Margaret’s House
Valaria’s story reminds us why we do this work. Margaret’s House isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a foundation for families to rebuild, to grow, and to find their footing. For Valaria and Jeremiah, it’s been the kind of foundation she never thought possible. And thanks to the generosity of people who support Kingdom Causes, we can keep offering that foundation to more families who need it.
Want to help write the next chapter for someone like Valaria? Drop by our kcbellflower.org or stop by the Community Center yourself to see how you can pitch in—whether it’s donating, praying, or just spreading the word. We maintain the thinking that all of us are better than any of us, and we need each other to keep stories like this one coming.
Thank you for being a real part of real stories like Valaria’s. Until next time…