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After struggling to find affordable housing while recovering from a stroke, Margaret Wildman said she finally had an apartment to call home in Tucson, Arizona, with her husband and 24-year-old son, Francisco.
That sense of stability ended abruptly, Margaret said, when another resident of the complex attacked her and her husband stepped in to protect her. His actions resulted in his arrest and led to Margaret and her son having to move from the property, with nowhere else to go.
“It was terrifying, and we still carry trauma from that day,” Wildman said.
With few options available, the pair moved in with Francisco’s grandfather, whose home was riddled with a leaking roof, termite damage and required structural repairs that made Wildman fear for their safety.
With two broken legs, the grandfather had difficulty getting around, adding to the challenges of their new living situation. Meanwhile, Wildman faced her own health complications and was waiting for approval of her disability benefits.
“We knew we couldn’t stay long,” she said.
Despite days of searching for emergency housing, Wildman was turned away twice when shelters weren’t able to meet her accessibility needs.
Everything changed when she called The Salvation Army Tucson’s Hospitality House Shelter, a 21-day program offering shelter and long-term transitional support to help guests move toward safety and stability.
The 104-bed facility provides temporary housing for men, women and families, along with case management, health and medical support, employment assistance, and life skills classes to equip guests with the tools they need to live successfully on their own.
“All clients require different types of support,” said Lourdes Perez, Case Manager at Tucson Hospitality House. “Some may need extra guidance with finding employment, while others already have a job but are still battling to secure housing.”
“Learning to budget changed everything for us. Once our mindset shifted, we were finally able to see a way forward.”
Margaret Wildman
Upon arriving at the Hospitality House, Wildman was paired with Perez to begin the process of securing stable housing.
“She was very overwhelmed at first,” Perez said. “Once we started working together to set a plan, I could see her confidence grow.”
While Francisco continued living with his grandfather to help him, he visited weekly to meet with Perez, where he and his mother worked on budgeting, saving and building healthy habits together.
Wildman admitted it was something new for both of them.
“Learning to budget changed everything for us,” she said. “Once our mindset shifted, we were finally able to see a way forward.”
At the same time, Wildman began attending chapel services and Bible studies at The Salvation Army All Nations Corps Community Center in Tucson, reconnecting with her Christian faith after many years.
“Having faith has helped me through this process,” Wildman said. “It’s given me strength again.”
Impressed by the family’s commitment, the Hospitality House extended Wildman’s stay for three more weeks. Perez also guided the family toward resources that could help address the grandfather’s living conditions.
Just a few days after Wildman’s stay was extended, she received news that her disability benefits had been approved and began arriving immediately, opening the door to more housing options in the area. At the same time, her husband was released from jail.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Everything started to fall into place.”
On Nov. 21, 2025, the family officially moved into their new two-bedroom apartment, a milestone she describes as the beginning of a new chapter for her family.
“We’re in our own place now and happier than we’ve been in a long time,” she said.
Looking ahead, Wildman said she plans to refer anyone in search of housing to the Tucson Hospitality House.
“If you follow the rules and take advantage of the programs The Salvation Army provides, it truly pays off,” she said. “You can build a better life, and if you put in the work, the only reason you’ll return is to say hi and thank you.”
With reporting from Kelli Beasley.
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