Get Set For: She Turned Her Pain Into a Movement, Now She’s Housing Hundreds

 What do you do when the person you needed most is gone?
When grief shakes your foundation, how do you rebuild? 

In this powerful episode of Get Set With Lissette, I sit down with my dear friend and community powerhouse, Dee Allen—founder and executive director of Thrive Housing Services—for a raw, honest, and deeply moving conversation. 

Dee shares how losing her grandfather at just 5 years old ignited a journey through trauma, identity, and ultimately purpose. What began as pain evolved into a mission: to create safe, stable, and supportive housing for youth and families who’ve been left without a safety net. 

From her early days in juvenile probation to now leading a nonprofit managing over 110 housing units, Dee unpacks the truth about youth homelessness, generational trauma, and how community can be the beginning of healing. This episode is a powerful reminder that your story is not over—and your past doesn’t define your future. 

💥 This episode is for anyone who has ever felt unseen, unheard, or unworthy.
You are not alone—and your pain can be turned into power.  

🎧 In This Episode:
✔️ Dee’s journey from heartbreak to healing
✔️ The untold story behind Thrive’s decade of growth
✔️ Why we must ask “What happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”
✔️ The role of belonging in breaking the cycle of youth homelessness
✔️ What it means to plant seeds—even if you never see them bloom 

✨ “Your story doesn’t end with the trauma. It begins with what you do next.”  

📍 Support Thrive Housing Services
🌐 thrivehousingservices.org
📞 717-364-4152
📍 2601 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA (Donation Drop-Off) 

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🌟 Let’s Stay Connected
🧠 Instagram | @get_setwith_lissette
🎙️ Podcast IG | @getsetwithlissette_podcast
📧 Email | getsetwithlissette@gmail.com 

💬 What part of Dee’s story spoke to your soul? Share your thoughts in the comments—we grow when we share. 

🔔 Subscribe and join us for more conversations that heal, empower, and build community. 

#GetSetWithLissette #ThriveHousingServices #YouthHomelessness #HealingIsPossible #TraumaToTriumph #PowerOfPurpose #FromGriefToGrowth #CommunityCare