When Dasheda Johnson was released from prison after three years, she was determined to rewrite her story—for herself and for her six children. She knew she couldn’t return to the same environment that had held her back, so she made the brave decision to leave her home county, break her life patterns, and search for the support she needed.

At first, that journey was full of frustration. Dasheda cycled through multiple programs that promised stability but never delivered. Then, everything changed when she was accepted into BACS’ transitional housing program at the Holland.

At the Holland, the first thing Dasheda had to face wasn’t housing—it was herself. “I had to learn how to control my attitude,” she shares. The first staff member who made Dasheda comfortable was Ginger. “She was an angel in disguise,” Dasheda says. “The way she communicated with me made me feel heard. It made me want to change.”

For the first time, Dasheda felt like someone genuinely cared. Ginger didn’t just offer support—she listened, encouraged, and walked alongside Dasheda through tough moments. That relationship gave Dasheda the confidence to make meaningful changes: she began addressing how she communicated with others, focusing on positivity, and embracing personal growth.

With Ginger’s support, Dasheda got a job, secured housing she could afford, and started building a stable life. “People make mistakes, but that shouldn’t define who they are,” she says. “BACS is a program that gives people like me hope. They hire people who live the ‘Whatever It Takes’ mission—and that made all the difference.”

Today, Dasheda is full of gratitude. She’s proud of how far she’s come, and she’s focused on what lies ahead: continuing to build her future and reuniting with her children.
“Thanks to BACS, I can say that life has never been better.”