New degree, new job, new keys: Shawna Peebles has a new lease on life
When Shawna Peebles recently visited the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Springfield, which was one of the hotels that served as her home at various points over the past few years, it wasn’t to book a room.
“I just went back to visit and thank the staff for everything. They were nice and super helpful,” said Peebles, who earned her master’s degree in healthcare administration in May 2026 from Bay Path University. “They told me, ‘Wow, you actually walk differently. There’s this different light about you.’ They were like, ‘We are so happy for you.’”
Peebles was buoyed not only by earning her degree, but also by recently finding an apartment and a new job with potential for professional growth. All of which are bringing her closer to her “absolute career goal”—to be an executive director in a long-term care facility—and to one day buy a home.
“After facing homelessness for two years, six months, and two days, I officially got my keys on August 10, 2026. It’s a studio apartment in Holyoke, not far from Mercy Medical Center in Springfield,” said Peebles, who works in communications as a message center operator and was recently hired by a local assisted living community. “It is my hope to use my transferable skills and newfound higher education to obtain a meaningful career where I can make a positive impact in healthcare.”
While pursuing her graduate studies—and working as a graduate assistant on campus and a remote operations intern, in addition to 24 hours at Mercy—housing instability was a constant. A dream that kept her going was the hope of stepping right from school into homeownership. She lived on campus for a little bit. When she could afford it, she’d stay in a hotel. When she needed to tighten her budget, she’d stay in her car. Going into shelter never seemed like a good fit for her, as she needed quiet space to study and scheduling/timing flexibility for her jobs, or for her teen son, who opted to stay with family.
“It’s really been some valleys that I dipped in. I’m happy that I’m OK and I’m able to work. And at the end of the day, I get to say, ‘I’m going home!’ and sleep on a bed. Not in a hot or cold car in a parking lot,” said Peebles, who earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Bay Path University in 2017. “It’s surreal, I have to tell you. Every night I get home, and it’s been just a little over a week, it makes a big difference with mental health, well-being, and everything else. Stable housing is an absolute human right. I’m really grateful that Way Finders helped me to get over that really dark time.”
Sharing in her joy and relief is Way Finders’ Homeownership Specialist Arcides Nieves, who gave Peebles counseling support beginning in early 2024 to navigate significant financial and housing challenges. These included an eviction from the one prior apartment where she’d lived for 14 years, due to financial and personal hardships, which couldn’t be sealed. Together they discussed strategies to raise her credit, improve her financial profile, and position herself as a stronger tenant and future homeowner.
"He motivated me to keep going," said Shawna Peebles (at right), of Way Finders' Homeownership Specialist Arcides Nieves (at left).
“I was waiting for this breakthrough! For real, Shawna’s done everything as advised. She was tackling so many things. A master’s degree while working multiple jobs, attending Way Finders’ educational workshops, trying to stay housed every single week for a good two years. Plus completing countless applications, following up with landlords, and doing everything within her control to pursue housing opportunities,” said Nieves. “She had two years of ‘Nos.’ What really stands out to me is Shawna’s persistence. Despite the denials and lack of responses, she never gave up.”
When asked how many rental applications she submitted, Peebles had a number in mind.
“At least 150,” said Peebles, of the competitive rental environment she faced.
Then there was the ghosting: Four times this spring, Peebles believed she had an apartment, after having her application accepted and doing walkthroughs. Only to be ghosted or rejected.
“Shawna would show me the correspondence. Can you imagine being filled with hope, thinking you are about to get the keys?” said Nieves. “In reality, these interactions affect many people but aren’t often told. Shawna was so good about documenting these stressors, including how her move-in date was pushed back 10 days while awaiting approvals. As the landlord repeatedly indicated other applicants were prepared to move in. Her story highlights the tremendous pressure many households face when trying to secure housing while navigating assistance programs and strict landlord timelines.”
Peebles said there were a few times she thought about giving up.
“But Arci was there for me. And now I’m going to get teary-eyed, but these are happy tears. After each meeting, I got this new sense of hope that maybe I could do it, because Arci believed in me,” said Peebles, who raised her credit score by 300 points in less than three years. “He’d say these great quotes, I wrote a lot down. ‘If you put in the work, you’ll yield the results you’re expecting.’ ‘It takes some people longer to get back on their feet, but your time will come.’ And one more I’ll leave you with: ‘Who you are is pivotal to where you’re going.’”
Shawna Peebles, who earned her master’s degree in healthcare administration in May 2026 from Bay Path University
With support from Way Finders and the RAFT [emergency financial housing assistance] program, Peebles is now in a position to rebuild her savings and maintain stable housing, Nieves noted. “It has truly been an honor to witness Shawna’s commitment to overcoming barriers. I’m very proud of you!”
“Working with Arcides has been a transformative experience,” said Peebles, who remains close with her son, a senior in high school. “As I navigated the path from experiencing homelessness to earning my master’s degree, Arci provided the perfect balance of professional housing counseling, practical guidance on budgeting, and unwavering emotional support. If it weren’t for him and Way Finders, I would have given up and quit school a long time ago. He motivated me to keep going until I finally unlocked the door to my own apartment. I can’t thank him and Way Finders enough for helping me reach this milestone.”
Congratulations and best wishes to you, Shawna!