Mother finds housing and employment with Partners For Success®
Kristine recently moved with her six-year-old daughter Natalie to Minnesota from another state to be closer to family. They arrived in Minnesota with only their car and a few possessions. Kristine’s brother and his family lived in the area but could not take them in for fear they would violate the terms of their lease.
School staff referred her to Partners For Success® Family Support Worker Jenna when they discovered mother and daughter were living out of their car.
Kristine’s strengths
When Jenna met with Kristine, she took stock of her many strengths and assets that would help her establish a stable life for herself and her daughter. Decades ago, Kristine immigrated to the United States from Africa and built a career as a talented tailor and seamstress. She had reliable transportation and had already applied for county food support and childcare benefits.
Jenna connected her with tangible items, including winter clothes, personal care items, and food. She reviewed housing and financial support options with her and helped her navigate other local resources. This initial work established Jenna as a trusted resource for Kristine and Natalie. With a Minnesota winter on its way, they met with a homeless advocate at Ally Supportive Services, who helped them get on a winter shelter list.
Finding employment and housing
Leveraging Kristine’s skills and job history, Jenna helped Kristine write a resume she used to apply for a job at a nearby mall. Not long after applying, she landed the job! It had flexible hours, allowing her to bring Natalie to and from school each day while she waited to receive childcare assistance.
Next, they worked together to find an apartment. After an initial application did not work out, Kristine found an apartment on her own. She didn’t have money to cover an entire month’s rent for a deposit and knew it would be a while before she heard anything back about her application for county benefits.
“I connected her to a local church with an emergency assistance fund to help people in the community,” says Jenna. “Thankfully, they could help her with the remaining deposit amount quickly. Kristine and Natalie moved into their new apartment in early December, just in time for the worst of Minnesota’s winter weather.”
Affordable living
Around that time, Kristine heard back from Dakota County that they approved her for SNAP benefits and childcare assistance. These resources allowed her to afford after-school care so she could work more hours. Since they moved into their new home, Kristine and Natalie are stable and doing well. Jenna says Natalie is thriving in her new school. “Natalie still stops by my office regularly for a hug and a life update, which always makes my day!”
This story is another example of how a person can create a hopeful future using their own strengths and the support of 360 Communities.
