Knocked down but never, ever out: Victoria Reyes on making it through loss and struggles
Caregiving comes naturally to Victoria Reyes of Springfield, who participated in a virtual interview with Way Finders this fall about her experience with Employment Support Services—all while deftly holding and cuddling her onesie-clad six-month-old grandson.
Victoria Reyes and her grandson
“He’s my first grandbaby, he was born two weeks after the fire,” said Reyes, of the devastating electrical fire that broke out in March 2025 at the Springfield rental home she shared with family. “My daughter, son-in-law, and niece were home when it happened. They smelled smoke from the second floor, then had minutes, maybe seconds, to get out. It started in the basement and went up the walls, engulfing the house. It was awful, we all lost a lot of stuff, but my son lost everything.”
Beyond displacing all residents of the triple-decker multi-family home in Liberty Heights, the fire also claimed the lives of several pets. And the grief it triggered felt achingly familiar to Reyes, who lost her parents within hours of each other during the pandemic, after having lived with and cared for them for 10 years.
In the immediate aftermath of the fire, Reyes stayed in a hotel for a bit with her daughter, who had been the lease holder of the apartment they shared for four years. Then, for about three months, Reyes lived out of her car. Out of necessity, she took medical leave from her counselor role at Behavioral Health Network (BHN) as she tried to rebuild her life without the stability of a home.
“I’d stay with a friend on and off, but otherwise I was sleeping in the car with my dog. It was hot, stressful. I was struggling to keep my bills afloat and didn’t really have money for food. This fire, it knocked me down, it knocked the wind out of me,” said Reyes, who faced an added hurdle in her apartment search. “I had no formal rental history for the last 15 years, so no landlord would rent to me. When I lived with my parents, I was on their lease as an aide.”
It was at this time that she connected with Job Developer and Retention Coordinator Wilmary Burgos at Way Finders, who helped her swing a plan into motion to get back on her feet—rooted in a teaching that Reyes herself has passed on to others.
“As I share in the groups I lead at BHN, something can knock you down, whether it’s drugs, whether it’s life, whether it’s a fire. And it can put you in a very bad spot. But it’s up to you to get that power within your mind to fight your emotions, right?” said Reyes. “And here is what I tell people: ‘You can pick something you love and that you’re passionate about and do it when you’re struggling, because sometimes it takes the mind off the struggle as you build something new in your life.’”
For Reyes, that thing she loved and was passionate about—and which she set her mind on while she struggled with homelessness—was regaining her certified nursing assistant (CNA) credentials, which had lapsed when she was caring for her parents. With the support of Burgos, Reyes enrolled at First Choice Academy and graduated at the end of July 2025, shortly before she resumed her full-time role with BHN.
“I didn’t have to go back to school for my CNA, but I wanted something more for myself and to keep myself from losing my mind, right?” said Reyes, who was relieved to move into her own apartment in early July 2025 with help from Way Finders’ emergency financial housing assistance (RAFT), which helped cover the $6,000 needed for first, last, and security.
Reyes’s mindset made a big impression on Burgos, who was there to cheer Reyes on at her CNA graduation ceremony.
“Her determination, grace under pressure, and life skills have truly touched and inspired me,” said Burgos. “Watching Victoria push through with such courage has been a reminder of what true strength looks like. I admire her deeply for not giving up and for showing up fully even when it was hard. It did not go unnoticed!”
Clockwise from right, Victoria Reyes and her grandson; Digital Marketing Specialist Glenn Morales-Carbaugh; Creative Content Manager Emily Malloy
When her car broke down in the middle of her training, Reyes found a way to get to class every day—and Way Finders helped cover the repair bill.
“Wilmary helped me get through the worst moments, just giving me the tools I needed to be able to succeed and meeting me where I’m at. She also helped put me in the class to get my High School Equivalency Test and got me a laptop so I could complete it,” said Reyes, who sees this as essential to expanding her role at BHN or pursuing college courses in psychology. “You want to learn how to be the best at your role, by learning how to support your clients.”
To maintain the housing stability Reyes fought so hard for, she plans to pick up CNA shifts as she can.
“Through the apps, I’m able to get paid for the shift daily and work as many hours as I want without dealing with a boss or anybody, just picking up a shift, going to work, and getting paid the same day. To boost my income,” said Reyes, who was proud to note the reason why she wanted to share her story. “I feel that a lot of people don’t get to hear the real struggles and how people actually still make it. You know, it’s not about where you’re at and what has happened. It’s what have you done to move forward?”