How One Family Found Hope, Stability, and a Path to Homeownership
One young family joined our Pathway of Hope Initiative after the husband had lost his job and the wife was due to have a baby any day and unable to contribute financially. First we were able to help this family stabilize from this crisis with immediate financial assistance for the most pressing of their bill payments but through our targeted case management this young family not only rebounded after several months, but attended several months of Operation Hope financial classes, which stemmed from the books you had given us to distribute. We were able to help with school clothing, Christmas gifts, help Dad find new employment, and provided mom with local resources for mom and baby. We were also able to help parents connect to resources for their 5 year old son with ADHD and possible autism and continue moving all of the family towards meeting their goals. Their son now attends ABA therapy several times a week. The family has graduated our program, but mom stays in touch and recently, while connecting a new mom to us, shared her newest goal. Mom’s new goal has been to start a side hustle to help the family. She is making hair bows and matching cloth diaper covers. She was able to save enough money to purchase a used Cricut machine and is now adding names and monograms to the designs. She has received a couple of orders and was sure to remind me that I have a baby granddaughter on the way and she has just the bows for me! She plans to build her inventory and participate in one of our many local festivals with a craft booth this spring. By attending case management and finance classes, we were able to help this family rise above their circumstances and work to make a better life for their children. Now they are using a budget, building their savings, and have set a goal to try to save for a down payment on a house. I have no doubt that this family of five will be owning their own home sooner than later.