Close to Homelessness
Stephanie is a 56-year-old single woman who applied for rental assistance in May 2023 , stating that she had lost most of her clients due to COVID-19 . Before the pandemic , she owned her cleaning business and was also a full-time student . She also cares for her 6-year-old granddaughter , whose mother is mentally ill . She received $ 934 a month SSDI due to a serious knee injury and SNAP of $ 430 a month , however , she still struggled to make ends meet . She also stated that she was scheduled to undergo knee surgery and would not be able to work until her knee healed . Stephanie needed assistance for a couple of months until she was able to go back to her business of cleaning houses . During the entire ESG program , Stephanie was met with challenges such as getting documentation or any cooperation from her leasing property . The company went through numerous management changes , which , at times , interfered with her program . There was a time when the property ’ s air conditioning system broke down for almost a month . Stephanie reached out to Arlington Urban Ministries and AUM was able to supply two fans to help cool her apartment while waiting for the property to repair the air conditioning system . Stephanie played a major role in advocating for herself to ensure that she got the support she needed from her property management . Despite all the barriers she encountered while in the program , Stephanie never gave up . She ensured that she attended the required financial literacy training and also met with the case manager as required . At the time of her program completion , she had not found employment but was working with her sister who was helping her apply for work from home jobs . She also stated that because AUM assisted to pay her rent , she was able to save up some money from the SSDI benefits , something she learnt from AUM ’ s financial literacy classes . Oct . 27 , 2023 , Stephanie sent an email with an update on how she was doing . She stated that she had started working at MHMR as a Peer Support Specialist a job she really wanted . She also stated that she would be doing her internship hours for her LCDC at the agency . She was hired as a full-time employee with full benefits .
The client sent an email stating the following : “ Hi Maureen , it ’ s me Stephanie Townsend . I just wanted to tell you that I finally got the job I have been working so hard to get . Today was my first day at MHMR of Tarrant County . It was a two-month process , but it is official . I am employed !!! Thank you for all you have done for me during the last six months . You helped me at a very vulnerable spot in my life while I had surgery and during unemployment . It was not easy with all of the apartment hassles but , you really went to bat for me . The really good thing is that I did learn a lot from the budget and money management class , and I am making better financial decisions . Thank you . I couldn ’ t have made it without your program . I would have been homeless living on the streets .
I also feel that with this job and what I have learned from the financial classes I can be financially stable and successful . I know it was not easy working with my apartment . Can you thank your supervisor as well . Anyway , your program does save lives and helps people to be able to stand on their own .
Sincerely , Stephanie Townsend .”