From Shelter to Stability
A Young Family finds Hope and a Home in a Host Congregation
Ms. J. and her two children came into the CARITAS Family Focus Program in November of 2005 after being evicted from their housing in Chesterfield County for failure to pay rent. 33 years old and 4 months pregnant, Ms. G. , had been employed part time by the US Postal Service and suffered a back injury while on the job. She was no longer able to work and eventually was unable to manage her family’s expenses.
Upon arrival, Ms. G had no financial resources. Through Case Management, she was assisted with pursuing Child Support, food stamps, and Medicaid and as a result had a significant improvement in her financial stability over the course of her stay with CARITAS. The family qualified for Medicaid and was able to secure health services, including prenatal services and physical therapy for her back injury.
Ms. G was a regular participant in the support groups and meetings that Family Focus sponsors on a weekly basis for our program participants. Over the course of her stay with CARITAS, Ms. G embraced the program and utilized the many resources that were made available. In turn, she became a support to other clients in the program and a positive part of the program, eventually being assigned the job of Hospitality Captain.
After four weeks in the program, one of our partnering congregations offered to sponsor the family for six months rent-free in a house owned by the church. The family moved into their new home one week before Christmas. CARITAS Family Focus assisted with the transition by advising church members how to best assist the family and encourage their further work towards becoming financially secure and establishing long-term stability with regard to their housing concerns.
By all accounts, this family is doing very well today, and thanks to the help of CARITAS, a special congregation, and the focus and determination of Ms. G herself, is on the road to self-sufficiency.