HARRISBURG, Pa. — Patricia Carn is a mom of four, with two sons and two daughters. Her youngest was born in September.
Patricia is also a recovering addict.
"I'm 39 years old. And I've been getting high since I was 22," she said.
Homelessness has also been a part of her struggle.
"Sleeping on porches, just walking the street all night. It was terrible," Patricia said. "I still think about that every day. Every day."
For Patricia, her biggest struggle was finding a place to turn to.
"I just really didn't know how to get off the street," Patricia said. "You're just so stuck out there."
Fear of judgment also made it harder to seek help.
"My sister would bring me clothes, and she told me to come home, get showers, come home, and eat, sleep," she said. "And I was so embarrassed at that point to even do any of that, for them to see me like that."
"Stigma is always a challenge when it comes to individuals reaching out for help," said Kelly Gollick, the director of Catholic charities in Dauphin County.
She says women like Patricia are not alone.
"Many women who are in recovery or have a history of substance use abuse find that they are in unstable housing," Gollick explained. "It could be that they are in a housing situation where somebody in the house is abusive. It could be a situation where they are sharing space with other users, and makes it an unsafe place for them to live."
Struggles with both issues stretch beyond women in Central Pa.
Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows roughly 26% of all homeless Americans suffer from drug abuse.
An even greater number, 38%, face abuse alcohol. And, 68% of all U.S. cities cite substance abuse as the largest cause of homelessness for single adults.
At the Lourdeshouse and Evergreen House in Dauphin County, new or expecting mothers can get help as they tackle both homelessness and substance abuse.
"They learn and understand what recovery is, understand perhaps even why they use, how to stop using," Gollick said. "We help them to find alternative housing, and work and problem solve with them for whatever the next steps might be for them."
Gollick says people struggling just need to ask for help.
"It is wonderful when somebody can walk out the door, knowing that they have hope and a wonderful future ahead of them," she said.
"I'm never gonna lose hope. You can't, you can't," Patricia said. "That's one thing, I'll tell you that you need to stick with, is having a lot of hope and faith in yourself."