Triumph Over Trauma: Overcoming Adversity
A survivor’s story
By Lovinah Igbani-Perkins, MSW, LCDC, CHW Instructor, RSPS, MHPS
As someone who endured a childhood filled with trauma—abandonment by my mother, molestation by my father, and later, rape—my journey into adulthood was marred by poor decisions rooted in pain and shame.
As a teenager, I quickly turned to selling and using illegal substances. By 19, I was a pregnant high school dropout, hiding my pregnancy out of embarrassment due to my strict upbringing. I never had a single prenatal appointment or even knew when my baby was due.
“A hospital social worker gave me the support I desperately needed.”
My plan to have an abortion shifted to adoption, but when I gave birth to my daughter at the Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital in Houston, I couldn’t go through with it. A hospital social worker gave me the support I desperately needed—blankets, diapers, a car seat, and guidance on WIC services.
That changed everything.
Become Who You Were Meant to Be
My struggles didn’t end there, but they shaped me into who I am today. Despite experiencing homelessness, incarceration (I went to prison twice), and addiction, I’ve managed to build a life I never thought possible.
“I work tirelessly to help others overcome their challenges.”
I now hold three degrees, including my master’s degree in social work, and I work tirelessly to help others overcome their challenges. I have been honored to serve as the Program Manager at Houston Recovery Center, and I am now transitioning into a new role as Manager of Clinical Services. Social work for me is not just a profession—it’s a calling and a purpose that I take deeply to heart.
I firmly believe anyone can prevail over even the most dire circumstances with the proper support. I did, and now the work I do is incredibly important and dear to my heart.
In the Spotlight: Houston Recovery Center
A primary goal of the Houston Recovery Center is to change a person’s life experience and improve their quality of life. Their Partners in Recovery program provides essential resources to those most in need, and the on-site Sobering Center offers clients a short-term stay opportunity to safely sober up.
Get the Help You Need
At the Houston Recovery Center (HRC), their Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide various vital services to address social determinants of health. They assist individuals with:
Linking to healthcare services, including accessing primary care and mental health resources.
Navigating housing and employment applications to help individuals achieve stability.
Applying for SNAP, Medicaid, and other assistance programs.
Supporting recovery efforts by guiding individuals toward substance use treatment and recovery support services.
Offering health education and outreach to underserved communities to ensure they know available resources.
150 N. Chenevert St., Ste. 100
Houston, TX 77002
713-236-7800
Whether you are coping with homelessness, addiction, or sexual assault, help is available. Please contact Save Texas Moms or explore the resources we have made available.
Texas Statistics
Homelessness
In 2024, 45,511 Texans experienced homelessness, and 39,208 were homeless households with children under 18 years of age. Of those, 28% slept in an unsheltered primary residence, meaning those individuals and families stayed at a nighttime residence not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation (Texas Homeless Network, 2024). Data also released by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development revealed the state’s homeless population grew by more than 12% in 2023. Homelessness grew in nearly every demographic group, and federal data confirms that homelessness is now back at pre-pandemic levels. Higher rents, the expiration of pandemic-era federal funds, and less housing availability contribute to the problem.
If you or someone you know is struggling to find stable housing, please call the 24/7 Texas Housing Assistance Line: 1-855-802-0014.
Addiction
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas is in the throes of a drug epidemic. Over the last several years, the state’s drug-related deaths increased by more than 75%. In 2021, the drug poisoning death rate was 15.8 deaths per 100,000 residents. This is nearly double that of the 9.4 deaths per 100,000 residents reported in 2017 (Texas Health Care Information program).
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers both binge drinking and heavy drinking as excessive. Texas ranks 24th in the nation for excessive drinking (CDC, 2022). Recent data has also found a link between high alcoholism rates and socioeconomic factors, including having no insurance or being underinsured. The 2022 Census Data confirmed Texas has the most uninsured Americans in the country.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please call the 24/7 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Rape
In 2023, Texas had the highest number of forcible rape cases in the United States, with 15,097 reported cases (Statista, 2024). It is important to note that Texas and California, the two states with the highest total number of reported rapes, are also the two states with the highest populations. When analyzing cases by rate vs. number, Texas ranked 13th in the nation, with a rate of 49.5 per 100,000 residents—an unacceptably high percentage.
If you or someone you know has been raped, please call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) 24/7 hotline number: 1-800-656-4673.
Houston Recovery Center’s Lovinah Igbani-Perkins has overcome a painful past to earn her master’s degree in social work and to help countless others. She believes everyone can do something to help bring about positive change.
Accept a Helping Hand
A compassionate social worker made all the difference for a young and pregnant Lovinah Igbani-Perkins. That connection allowed Perkins’ future self to support many others in Texas. Today, she works as the Houston Recovery Center’s Manager of Clinical Services.
Remember:
Don’t be afraid to seek out support. Know there are other individuals and families in very similar situations. Plus, early intervention is always best.
Be honest with yourself and others. Asking for—and accepting—help is a brave and essential step toward a more secure and successful future.
Do you know of someone who has done amazing things to support others? Do you work at a clinic or other health facility that should be spotlighted for helping Texans? Please contact us so we can feature you in future blogs.
