When her husband walked out on her, Patricia and her 15-year-old son Jamil were plunged into an unfamiliar world of financial distress.
Fully disabled after a surgical mistake years earlier, Patricia had relied on the income from her husband’s job to pay the mortgage and other bills. Left with only her monthly Social Security disability payments, she soon found the situation unmanageable.
When child support payments suddenly stopped, Patricia desperately took out a title loan on her car. Then a second and a third. Soon, nearly half of her income was going toward the interest. With her house on the brink of foreclosure and her utilities scheduled for disconnection, she found her way to Crisis Assistance Ministry for help. That day, your support provided emergency payments directly to the utility companies to keep power and water on.
With the immediate crisis averted, Patricia enrolled in the agency’s Economic Mobility Program and met regularly with a caseworker over the next 90 days. Working together, Patricia set personal goals and laid out a plan of action. Over time, Patricia successfully refinanced her mortgage, eliminated one title loan, and reduced the amount of another.
When Patricia shared that her stove was broken and she was making do with a crockpot and fast food, a replacement was provided. Soon, Patricia and Jamil were eating home-cooked meals in their kitchen again. “They gave me a brand-new stove,” she said. “I was so grateful.” As winter approached, she was able to shop free-of-charge for shoes and coats to keep them both warm. And finally, when Jamil was being repeatedly bullied at school, Patricia found the courage to demand better treatment for her son.
She credits the one-on-one coaching sessions with empowering her to make changes not only financially but also personally. In fact, she has become an active volunteer with the agency, sharing her story in hopes of inspiring others to reach their full potential.
Patricia is so grateful for the help she found here, thanks to you.
“It’s more than I ever expected. It’s a beautiful place to find help.” – Patricia