CITY OF ARLINGTON | Grants Management Annual Report 2024 45
Zion and Zenobia
Zenobia always tries to be a good example for her teenage daughter , Zion . As the first African American woman to be head chef at a renowned Las Vegas restaurant , Zenobia has always followed her dreams and encourages Zion to do the same . Recently , Zenobia learned of a health complication that would require surgery and lengthy healing time . She decided to move with Zion to Texas to recover alongside extended family . Zenobia and Zion made the long move only to discover that the living arrangement with the family fell through . Zion and her mother had nowhere to go , and no means to return to Las Vegas . Thankfully , Arlington Life Shelter was there to provide support .
After arriving at Arlington Life Shelter , Zenobia found encouraging staff ready to help the family heal . After a few months , Zenobia found an apartment for her and her daughter and is now healthy and working as a restaurant manager and as a home healthcare assistant . Zion is currently in high school taking AP engineering courses and is looking forward to graduating in 2024 .
Amanda and Tiera
Amanda never thought she ’ d have to go to a homeless shelter . In fact , she was accelerating through school to become a dental assistant on top of working part-time . Unfortunately , she lost her job when her final semester of school started . With no income , she couldn ’ t afford utilities , groceries or rent . Eventually , she had to make the difficult choice to bring her family to the Arlington Life Shelter . Success was quick to come to Amanda after checking into the Shelter . That first night , she and her children were welcomed with a meal and a safe place to sleep . With the stability and structure the Shelter offered , Amanda and her children didn ’ t have to miss any days from school , and Amanda graduated as a dental assistant the next month .
In December of that same year , the family was able to move into the Shelter ’ s transitional housing . The two years they spent there allowed Amanda to find a job in her field and get used to managing a home again . And , for her daughter Tiera and her siblings , it was a huge relief .
“ Things went back to normal then ,” Tiera explains . Amanda believes the stability the Shelter provided her children was crucial to their current success - Tiera just began her second semester at Tarrant County College . Like all college freshman , she was a little nervous at first but she had a big supporter by her side her mom . Amanda also returned to school to pursue a career in radiology , and even finds time to give back to the Shelter as a volunteer , now that she ’ s back on her feet .