Krystal’s Story: Finding Her Footing

Krystal Kinney spent 20 years building a life in Twin Falls, Idaho—until everything changed. Fleeing domestic violence, she found herself at a crossroads, faced with two choices for where to start over. Boise became her landing place.

When Krystal first arrived at Interfaith Sanctuary, she carried with her not just the weight of her own trauma but a fierce desire to advocate for everyone around her. She was what some might call a “drama momma”—always standing up for the other guests, pushing hard when she felt someone wasn’t getting the support they needed. With a background in disability services, she was used to being the helper, the voice for those who couldn’t always speak up for themselves.

But in the process, she forgot to care for the one person who needed her most—herself.

With a lot of patience, support, and redirection from staff, Krystal slowly began to shift her focus inward. She did a complete 180, turning her energy toward her own healing and growth. When asked what changed, she shared:

“I came to the realization that living in the projects as a young preteen into a teenager was far more intimidating than anything I’ve faced here. That’s not to say it isn’t intimidating at times, but I’ve learned how to carry myself—and I’ve learned to keep to myself when I need to.”

Krystal credits the stability and security of the shelter with giving her the space to focus on herself for the first time in a long time. The safety of having a bed to sleep in each night and a community of support helped her find her footing again.

“Yes, the shelter did quite a bit for me. Just knowing I had a place to lay my head at night—that gave me peace of mind. It made it possible for me to stay clean and move forward.”

Today, Krystal is getting ready to celebrate one year at her job—a huge milestone. Her consistency at work, her dedication to meeting her personal goals, and her positive growth earned her a spot in our program dorm, where she could continue to build on that success.

And now, with a job, a car, and a renewed sense of self, Krystal is at the top of the list for rapid rehousing with our partners at CATCH. She’s on the brink of moving into a home of her own—an outcome we all strive for, and one she has worked so hard to achieve.

Krystal’s journey reminds us that with a safe place to land and the right support, healing is possible—and hope is always within reach.