Neighbors Helping Teila

Teila’s childhood was not easy. From a young age, she suffered from abandonment and abuse. She stayed with various family members but by the time she was 15, she was on her own and living in youth shelters, trying not to give up hope. But her life began to turn around when she moved into Louis Nine House at age 22.

Louis Nine House (LNH) is home to 46 young adults who have aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness and mental illness. Teila and the other LNH residents have access to a continuum of supportive services designed to help them achieve stability, maintain sobriety, and work toward self-sufficiency.

Teila takes full advantage of the services NCS offers to LNH residents. “I reach out to everyone,” Teila shared. “I don’t always assume that I can do things on my own, but the staff has helped me gain confidence in myself. They point out my strengths and give me space to ask really tough questions.”

When Teila moved into Louis Nine House, she dreamed of finishing college. Today she has an Associate's degree from Borough of Manhattan Community College and a Bachelor's Degree in Fraud Examination and Financial Forensics from John Jay College. Earlier this year she was hired through a temp agency as an Accounting Clerk for New York City's Administration for Children's Services, supporting the agency that protects children who grow up in situations similar to her own. This experience inspired her to want to go back to school to get her Master’s Degree in Public Administration, and one day, she hopes to audit the City’s finances to ensure funds are spent wisely.

“At first, I was really scared and stressed out about doing something new. I didn’t want to make a fool of myself, and I wasn’t sure how to behave in an office environment," said Teila, reflecting on starting her job. "Elizabeth (McGuire, NCS’s Vocational Coordinator) helped me do research. She keeps me focused and helps me be realistic. She helps me plan and strategize before each step.”

One such step was connecting Teila with Tom McCulloch, NCS’s retired CFO. The two have spoken by phone several times, with Tom providing advice on what is involved in becoming an accountant and how to behave in a professional environment. Tom was so impressed by Teila that he offered to write her a letter of recommendation for graduate school.

Elizabeth believes the sky is the limit for Teila. “I’ve seen Teila work and grow in so many ways. Whatever obstacles are in her way, she maintains focus and never loses her determination. Her future is bright, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.”

Teila is looking to the future more these days, too. “There’s a lot I want to do with my life. I have a lot of goals. One day I will move out of Louis Nine House, but first I want to have a stable job. So, for now, I need to stay focused and overcome my fears. I need to believe in myself and know that I can do it.”

Elizabeth, Tom, and everyone at NCS will root for Teila as she continues on this path toward independence.

In honor of NCS’s 40th anniversary, we will be sharing stories about our founders, volunteers, supporters, and staff who make our work possible, and the residents and clients at the center of our mission.
Check back throughout the year as we regularly update the series with new stories from our 40 years here.