There is Beauty in Every Story: Jeanette Smith

Jeanette Smith is strong, full of love, and a survivor. She lived through homelessness for almost 40 years of her life, and we had the incredible opportunity to interview her. This is her story.

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Jeanette moved to Reno, Nevada, during her youth to live with her twin sister. She was young and carefree, recounting that back then, “you couldn’t tell me nothing.” She lived right in the heart of downtown, often watching the nightlife and going out, enjoying her youth. She laughed when telling us that her best advice to her teenage self would’ve just been to “sit yourself down, Jeanette.”

When we asked what advice she would give to girls our age, she opened up about her past abusive relationship, warning that women should ALWAYS leave at the first sign of domestic violence, as it can escalate quickly. She explained that when her partner first hit her, she was in shock, couldn’t believe it had happened, and stayed. But the abuse continued, growing worse until she feared for her life.

Before the abuse, Jeanette’s life had been going well. She had a child, was going through nursing school, and never drank or smoked. But this man introduced her to hard drugs. As the abuse continued, she turned to drugs more to numb out her pain. Jeanette says, “he took my hopes, he tried to take my life, and I allowed it because of the fear.”

Because of the violence she endured, Jeanette now struggles with degenerative arthritis and constant back pain. Still, she focuses on resilience, reminding herself to be grateful for mobility and life itself. Her faith has been a guiding light, helping her cope with the trauma of her past. She praises God for keeping her alive, reminding herself, like Frosty the Snowman says, to “put one foot in front of the other.”

At one point, her partner shot her in the head. Miraculously, she survived. But afterward, she fell deeper into addiction, leading to homelessness for nearly four decades. She describes life on the streets as stressful and uncertain, waking up each morning unsure if her belongings would still be there. Her son searched for her at times, not knowing if she was alive or dead, and once found her in jail, completely unrecognizable.

Jeanette is open about the long road it took to rebuild. She went from shelters to rehab, to treatment, and eventually to Community on the Rise. Today, she has housing, a consistent income, and has been clean for years. She shares how her job there has given her purpose and how she connects with clients because she’s walked in their shoes.

Jeanette’s story is powerful not only because of her resilience, but also because it shows how homelessness often comes from pain, trauma, and cycles that are hard to escape. Many people experiencing homelessness are just like Jeanette: people who have endured abuse, addiction, or tragedy. Struggle is the product of something before. It is not about being a “bad person,” but about being human in the face of hardship.

Jeanette ends her story with gratitude. She says she can now look in the mirror and love the person she sees—something that once felt impossible. Her honesty and strength remind us that healing and self-love are possible, and that every person experiencing homelessness has a story worth hearing.