Richard, a proud father of three, was happy to celebrate this Father’s Day in his own home after months of searching for safe and stable housing for his family.
Last year, Richard lived with his mother temporarily after leaving a “toxic living situation.” He was safe and content, until he learned that his children were in potential danger. He learned that his children’s mother, with whom he shares custody, was in an abusive relationship with her significant other. To ensure that his children had a safe and stable place to call home, he researched ways to get a place of his own with more space for his children. Richard’s path to housing was met with roadblock after roadblock, as he navigated the housing system and managed feeling overwhelmed.
Richard reached out to the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, who connected him to Community of Hope. He says that Community of Hope quickly stepped in and helped him navigate the housing process. “I was lost,” says Richard. “I felt like giving up. Every time I looked for help, I kept hitting red tape.” Richard recalls working with several programs before Community of Hope “stepped up and helped get the job done.”
Richard’s housing search took a total of seven months and in March of 2023, Richard moved into a safe and beautiful home located in DC’s Ward 2. He’s proud of this space because it signifies the reward of not giving up and his promise to provide safety for his children.
Before connecting with Community of Hope, Richard felt hopeless and drained. “It takes a lot out of a person when nothing works out and there is no one for them to talk to; but when there is someone there to support and show that they care that helps a lot,” says Richard. “Community of Hope taught me what to do and to stay focused.”
Richard believes his efforts to create a stable home for himself and his children have had a positive impact on their lives in multiple ways. He’s excited for the safe space to watch them grow and flourish, in addition to the lessons they’ve learned through witnessing this process. Richard is teaching them to make a plan and about the value of research and awareness to reach their goals. “My kids see me not giving up, and by me doing that, I know when they grow up, they will do the same thing. They will try to navigate their experiences and not give up,” says Richard.
And as excited Richard is for his children, he also has a new network of supporters cheering him on as well. Adrianna Barbour, Richard’s Community of Hope case manager, applauds his hard work and focus throughout the housing search. She says, “The process is not going to move with just one person doing the work. When you need Richard to do something, he does it. He is an awesome client.”
“There are people out there that really need help,” says Richard. “My Community of Hope team did an excellent job with me. I was in a terrible place, and they helped me turn things around. I can’t think of a better program than Community of Hope.”
Now that Richard has a safe and stable place to call home for him and his kids, he is working on getting his commercial driver’s license to qualify to drive a freight truck and hopefully start a trucking business one day.
“Right now, I have no worries. My kids are proud of me,” says Richard.
