Finding Stability and Gratitude: Alison Bell’s Journey Through Casa Paloma
By Isabela Gamez
The Primavera FoundationWhen Alison Bell arrived at Casa Paloma in early September 2025, she was searching for stability after several difficult months of living in her car. After months of uncertainty, simply stepping into the shelter brought an immediate sense of relief. The space felt calm and welcoming, offering the comfort and safety she had been missing during a difficult period in her life. For the first time in months, Alison felt like she had a place where she could pause and begin thinking about what came next.The Primavera Foundation’s emergency women’s shelter became the start of a new chapter marked by reflection, growth, and gratitude.“Casa Paloma provides a safe, clean, respectful environment to give homeless struggling women the opportunity to create a new life and transition out of homelessness into being,” Alison said.Alison’s path to Casa Paloma was shaped by years of caregiving. For 13 years, she devoted her life to caring for her parents in the midwest. During that time, she balanced caregiving with work as a massage therapist, setting aside her earlier career in corporate administration, management, and human resources.“I couldn’t do a nine-to-five job while I was taking care of my mom and dad,” she said.After her parents passed away, Alison relocated to Tucson hoping to start fresh. She believed the savings she had left would help her transition while she worked to obtain her Arizona massage therapy license. But the process took longer than she expected, and her savings quickly dwindled.“I relocated here to Tucson, but I had wiped out my life savings and my retirement while I was taking care of them during those years,” Alison said. “So I thought I had enough money to be able to transition into life here… but I didn’t have much. I ended up living out of my car.”When Alison entered Casa Paloma, she quickly began focusing on rebuilding stability. With guidance from her Resource Specialist Destiny, she developed a plan that included working as a rideshare driver while saving her SSI benefits and working toward permanent housing. Along the way, she also took advantage of educational opportunities offered through the program, including budgeting and career classes.Though Alison has a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a background in accounting and finance, the experience gave her a new perspective.“It was humbling for me to have to be reminded that we can keep learning and perhaps I need a refresher course,” she said. “I had that attitude, ‘what can I do that I don’t already know?’… It was absolutely helpful, and I got my certificate for the class.”During her time at Casa Paloma, Alison became an active part of the shelter community. She occasionally prepared meals for fellow residents, shared helpful resources with staff, and offered encouragement to women navigating their own challenges.“When I came here, I realized there were things about my character I needed to change and ways I needed to grow—becoming more humble, appreciative, and grateful,” she said.As Alison continued working toward stability, she qualified for Primavera’s Transitional Housing Program and began applying for permanent housing. The transition happened quickly. Within just nine days of entering the program in December 2025, Alison was approved for two apartment units and selected one that met both her financial needs and her desire for safety and comfort.With support from the Primavera Foundation, Alison moved into her new apartment on New Year’s Day.Looking back, Alison says the experience taught her more than she expected.“Having to take action to prepare to transition out of here with the budget classes and some of these other things forced me to look at who I am as a person,” she said. “I needed to see how I interacted with other people. I needed to see some things about my character and personality that needed to change, and I have appreciation for the simplest things now.”For Alison Bell, Casa Paloma became more than a shelter. It was a place of growth, reflection, and new beginnings.
