After her marriage ended nearly 20 years ago, Monica lost her support system and spent three years without a home of her own. She was looking for shelter, food and a way forward when a street outreach worker at the Tulsa Day Center connected her to 211 Eastern Oklahoma.
That call changed the direction of her life.
Through 211, Monica connected with Family & Children’s Services, Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS), and stable housing for herself and her children. She found counseling, treatment, and people who stayed beside her when she needed them most.
The road back was not easy. There were setbacks and hard days. But Monica kept moving forward.
Today, she is thriving and working full-time helping others navigate health care. She is also a star of this year’s Tulsa Area United Way fundraising drive video.
Monica’s message for others like her is simple.
“Just know that you’re not alone,” she said.
This Q&A features highlights from Monica’s guest appearance on Tulsa Area United Way’s
Live United podcast.
Monica, your journey started with a call to 211 Eastern Oklahoma. It really reminds me how one call can change everything. So, tell us a little bit about yourself and what led you to call 211.
I work for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, doing customer service and pharmacy calls, helping members every day try to have peace of mind and navigate this health care system.
I got a divorce and I didn’t really have much support family-wise, and so I was on that journey for a while. After my divorce, I became homeless, and so that was a big struggle.
I called 211 for many resources during that time, but probably the best one that I ever experienced with them was they got me hooked up with Family & Children’s Services, and I’ve been a client with them ever since. They’ve helped me with therapy and medications.
You described 211 as giving you hope when you were feeling hopeless. What would you say to someone listening or watching who might be in that same place now?
Just know that you’re not alone, even if it feels like it. There are tons of resources in Tulsa, and 211 can point you in the right direction for most of them.
They didn’t make me feel ashamed or scared. They were very understanding. I’ve even called them crying before, and the lady talked me down like she was my therapist or something. So, they’re always very good.
Even if you don’t want to talk on the phone, you can text them, and they will send you information through text. There’s so many resources in Tulsa. There’s no reason, really, not to take advantage of some, and you could start with 211.
What’s one thing you wished people knew, whether it’s about 211 or your journey?
That how you’re feeling today is temporary, and just having a little faith in yourself and sometimes reaching out for that help, even though it’s hard, can point you in the right direction and make that change.
Monica, you’ve got the last word on this one. Why do you Live United?
Well, I feel like if more people would just help out where it needs to be helped, do what needs to be done, even if it’s just having a smile on their face, giving a small compliment, listening. Like you said, you never know what people are going through. And I feel like that collectively we can reach more people and help out more because two heads are always better than one.