Imagine being a single mother of four. . . and then imagine being homeless.
That was the situation “Destiny” had found herself. While she felt like she was making good decisions at the time, some of those decisions ultimately cost her not only her home, but her dignity. She came to Catholic Charities with no real hope of receiving help, but not knowing where else to turn.
Destiny was suffering from hopelessness. She could barely take care of herself, let alone tend to her children. She felt scared and desperate about their future. A caseworker immediately offered comfort and kindness to Destiny, and then got to work on addressing her most immediate needs: food and shelter.
The caseworker was able to provide food, clean clothing, diapers for the baby, and other items Destiny and her children needed. Also, Catholic Charities coordinated a stay with a local motel for the family until permanent housing could be secured. With so much support, Destiny began to see light at the end of the tunnel. Just a few small steps in the right direction and in less than a month, Destiny and her children were able to move into a new apartment.
Not long after, we received news that Destiny applied for admission to a local university. Thanks to various grants and student loans, Destiny began classes this fall. Because she is able to take most of her classes online, she is also able to stay home and care for her children. She has made a new friend at her apartment complex who agreed to watch her children during those times where she needs to attend school in person. For the first time in a long time, Destiny feels excited about her future. She is eager to begin working towards new goals.
Catholic Charities will continue to be a source of hope and support as Destiny embarks on a new chapter in her life. Destiny has expressed how grateful she is to Catholic Charities for believing in her when no one else was there.
