Emily's Story of Support
Name has been changed to protect the individual's privacy
Emily, a single mother working with the YWCA Outreach Housing Team, was trying to manage two pressing needs at once: keeping her home secure and ensuring her son had enough to eat.
Overdue water and power bills put her at risk of utility disconnection, which would have breached her lease and could have resulted in eviction. At the same time, rising grocery costs during the summer made it difficult to consistently provide food for her son once school meal programs were no longer available.
Emily received $1943.18 from the Emergent Women and Children’s Fund, and was able to pay the outstanding utility bills directly to service providers and secure grocery gift cards, which were managed alongside her Housing Support Worker. The assistance kept the utilities connected, protected the family’s housing, and helped ensure food was available throughout the summer. Emily also continued receiving budgeting support to strengthen her longer-term financial stability.
In her follow-up survey, Emily said the assistance had taken “a lot of weight and stress off” her shoulders. Most importantly, she said she was better able to care for and support her son.
For Emily, the funding helped prevent one financial challenge from becoming a housing crisis while providing the immediate stability she needed to focus on caring for her child.
Emily received $1943.18 from the Emergent Women and Children’s Fund, and was able to pay the outstanding utility bills directly to service providers and secure grocery gift cards, which were managed alongside her Housing Support Worker. The assistance kept the utilities connected, protected the family’s housing, and helped ensure food was available throughout the summer. Emily also continued receiving budgeting support to strengthen her longer-term financial stability.
In her follow-up survey, Emily said the assistance had taken “a lot of weight and stress off” her shoulders. Most importantly, she said she was better able to care for and support her son.
For Emily, the funding helped prevent one financial challenge from becoming a housing crisis while providing the immediate stability she needed to focus on caring for her child.