By the time Tiffany Blair was eleven-years old all she knew was a life living on the streets: sleeping under viaducts and beside rivers while watching her mother get high. “I loved my mom dearly,” Tiffany admits, “but I was always mad at her. I didn’t understand her choices.” Yet, the loyalty and love she felt for her mother were unwavering.
“My mom wasn’t really taught how to be a decent mom or anything like that. And she was already using drugs as a teenager. My parents split up shortly after I was born, and my dad wasn’t in the picture. My mom just continued with the drug life. We went from place to place to place, Tiffany shares. Today Tiffany is a completely different person: recently married, successful in every right, we will return to her story, but before we do let’s examine the larger picture.
America is facing a crisis which receives scant coverage in the media. 100,000 Americans died from drug overdoses last year alone, communities across the country are struggling to find answers to the surge of homelessness and addiction. While many cities have turned to the “housing first” model—providing immediate shelter before addressing deeper issues like addiction and mental health—Tiffany Blair of The Other Side Village advocates what she believes is a better way.
This is Tiffany Blair’s narrative is all too familiar to those who have experienced the hard edge of homelessness and addiction, and generational poverty. Growing up in an unstable environment where the adults in her life struggled with addiction and constant uncertainty, Tiffany didn’t experience the safety and security that most children take for granted. By the time she was just 11 years old, Tiffany and her mother were homeless, living under viaducts and on riverbanks, first in Utah, then in Yuma, Arizona.
A Childhood Lost to Survival
Tiffany’s childhood was a constant struggle to survive. Her mother’s addiction created a fractured reality where Tiffany roamed the streets and sought stability where none existed. She was often left to fend for herself while her mother was consumed by addiction. In many ways, Tiffany’s loyalty to her mother mirrored the protective instinct many children feel, even in the most challenging circumstances.
There were moments when Tiffany tried to insert herself back into a world of normalcy, like when she desperately sought to attend school. But circumstances would always pull her back into chaos. “I put myself into school when I could,” she says, “but I was too young and scared to get taken away from my mom. I chose her over school because I loved her.”
This pattern continued into adulthood. By then, Tiffany had become her mother’s mirror image—struggling with addiction, caught in a whirlwind of unhealthy relationships, and disconnected from her children. It wasn’t until she found herself in jail for the umpteenth time that she faced the reality that she needed to change, not only for herself but for the children she had left behind.
The Cycle of Addiction
For Tiffany, the cycle of addiction was an endless loop of poor choices and abuse. “I became my mom,” she reflects with a tone that’s equal parts regret and acceptance. Her battle with substance abuse, homelessness, and a string of abusive relationships had become her identity, just as it had for her mother.
By the time her children were born, Tiffany found herself unable to break free from the life that had trapped her. “I had two sets of kids and I didn’t raise either one,” she acknowledges with raw honesty. In a tragic echo of her own childhood, she repeated the patterns she had sworn to avoid, leaving her children in the care of others while she continued to spiral.
The turning point came when she hit rock bottom, recognizing that she had become numb to the dangers of her lifestyle. “I didn’t care if I got an STD, if I got beat up, or if I got pregnant. I was using my body as an ATM,” she admits. It was a brutal existence, one that she knew she couldn’t continue.
Her children, now grown, were starting to rebuild their own lives without her, and she realized that the future she wanted could not be achieved by repeating her past.
From Rock Bottom to a New Life
A key factor in Tiffany’s transformation was her decision to join The Other Side Academy, a two-year residential program designed to help individuals confront their addiction and rebuild their lives. It was here that Tiffany was able to finally feel safe, to face the discomfort of her past, and to start asking the hard questions about who she wanted to become.
At the Academy, Tiffany learned the skills she had never been taught—social etiquette, emotional regulation, and how to live within society’s structures. For the first time, she wasn’t running; she was staying put, building relationships, and learning to accept accountability. “This is the longest I’ve ever been around the same people in the same place,” she says, a hint of pride in her voice. She describes the Academy as a sanctuary, where she could make mistakes and grow from them, all within a supportive environment that encouraged her to confront her past and envision a better future.
After completing the program, Tiffany transitioned to take a position offered to her as a mentor at The Other Side Village.
The Village is an initiative that offers permanent housing to the homeless. She now works as a coach, using her lived experiences to guide others who are where she once was. “I feel honored to be able to take part in saving a different population,” Tiffany says. Her empathy and authenticity have become invaluable assets in her work with residents who need someone who genuinely understands the challenges they face.
Healing and Rebuilding Relationships
One of the most remarkable aspects of Tiffany’s journey is her reconciliation with her children. After years of separation, she was recently able to meet her two oldest children, now in their twenties. It’s a delicate and ongoing process, but Tiffany is grateful for their openness and willingness to see her for the woman she is today, rather than the mother she failed to be.
“I feel honored for that,” she says, her voice breaking with emotion. She is working to rebuild those relationships step-by-step, acknowledging the pain she caused but also recognizing the power of change and redemption. “I am in a position to accept the accountability, and I’m willing to help them through their emotions,” she says.
Fostering a Work Ethic, Not Dependency
One of the most controversial aspects of The Other Side Village’s model is its emphasis on work. Critics argue that requiring individuals to work in exchange for housing and support amounts to “indentured servitude.” Blair counters this by describing her own transformation: “I needed it when I got to the academy. I needed to learn pride in work, get a work ethic, wake up, have a good attitude.”
For Blair, the routine of work was instrumental in building a new life. “I learned how to work as a team, deal with other people’s personalities, hold people accountable, help be held accountable,” she shares.
The program offers skills training, real-life job experience, and a safe place to make mistakes and grow. Blair describes it as “like getting a free college degree or trade, without paying for it.”
The Long Road to Self-Sufficiency
Blair is clear that The Other Side Village is not for everyone, but for those willing to embrace its unique approach, the rewards can be life-changing. “I was like, ‘She’s a lost cause,’ you know. ‘She’ll never go anywhere in life.’ But I did something different. I learned new things all the time. And I was nervous and I made mistakes. But it’s a process of elimination.”
At The Other Side Village, it’s about more than just surviving. It’s about learning to thrive. Residents gain independence over time, with the ultimate goal of moving out of the Village and into self-sufficiency. As Blair describes it, “You’ll never be more than what you are if you never do more than what you can.”
A Community Effort
As Blair and others continue to build The Other Side Village, their focus is clear: create a space where everyone matters and has a purpose. It isn’t just about getting the job done—it’s about giving residents a sense of belonging and purpose. Whether it’s running a shift at one of the social enterprises, joining in on community clean-ups, or simply sticking to a daily routine, every contribution counts. These are not just tasks; they’re opportunities to help residents build confidence and regain a sense of control over their lives.
The Village’s influence has stretched beyond its borders, branching out into the wider Salt Lake City community. Through businesses like thrift stores, moving companies and a donut shop, the organization has created a network of enterprises that do more than just keep the lights on—they offer training and employment to those looking for a fresh start.
Tiffany Blair knows firsthand the struggle to break the cycle of homelessness. Her story is a testament to human resilience—a journey from the streets to a life of service and leadership. When asked what it takes to help someone turn their life around, her answer comes without hesitation: “You have to see them as a person. They deserve to be recognized and listened to.” She speaks from experience, having lived through years of being overlooked and dismissed. Her empathy is genuine, earned through her own fight to escape a life that often seemed inescapable.
Now, Blair’s mission is to prove that transformation is always possible. It’s a story about healing, rebuilding, and the quiet, steady power of community in helping individuals rediscover their self-worth.
For more insights and to listen to the full discussion, check out the podcast episode here. If you’d like to support The Other Side Village and The Other Side Academy, visit their thrift store boutiques, try out their unique donut shop, or explore their services by visiting theothersideacademy.com or theothersidevillage.com.
The Other Side offers an innovative approach, one that not only addresses homelessness but strives to instill lasting change through hard work, community support, and the belief that everyone has the capacity to contribute positively to society.
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