Bridge to Big Life Goals!

When this family of five (mom, grandmother, two adult children, and one 10-year-old) was asked to vacate their rental property, they had nowhere to go and were forced to move into a motel. On nights when they were unable to cover the motel cost, they had no choice but to sleep in their car. Their goal was to have a home again, but most of their income was going to the motel room, so they were constantly playing catch up. They were stuck in a cycle of paying night after night. After several months of instability, they were referred to Families Together and enrolled in the Bridge Housing program. The Bridge program allowed the family a chance to have a stable place to stay while they continued to work towards their goals and save for permanent housing. 

After eight months, and in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, this family was finally able to find a place of their own to call home. They used the funds saved while in the program and signed a lease in their own name. Since then, the family has maintained stability while participating in case management services and financial education workshops. They recently re-signed their lease for another year and are looking forward to continuing making their house a home. 

Throughout their entire journey, the mom has consistently worked full-time in order to provide for her family. She also provides care to her elderly mother, who is on dialysis and requires frequent medical care. Her two adult children have also maintained focus while pursuing their goals. One of them is working part-time and pursuing a degree in cosmetology. The other is working in the car business as he pursues a degree in automotive services at Wake Tech. 

Throughout their time in the program, this family has been committed to giving back. On Thanksgiving day, they delivered a hot meal to a family sleeping on the street. The mom shares that her ultimate goal is to open her own non-profit so she can help others in need. She has begun meeting with an Employment Mentor Advocate to take steps towards her career goals!