When Anthony Walker became sole caretaker to his young daughter, balancing work and childcare was suddenly a challenge. He could no longer take regular shifts at his construction job, and was unable to afford to pay his own rent. He stayed with family and friends, but accepting their hospitality was not a long-term solution. After two uncomfortable months sleeping in his friend’s living room, he and his daughter moved into emergency shelter, and then into his own apartment through our Rapid Re-Housing program. The short-term program provides him with financial assistance for his rent payments and supportive case management.
Now, Mr. Walker is getting back on his feet. His case manager Jackie helped him move into a new apartment, made sure his daughter had uniforms and school supplies for pre-school, and worked with him keep closer track of his expenses. “I needed that leg up,” he said. “I just needed to get situated so I could get working again. And Jackie keeps me on point.”
This summer, with some help from our team, Mr. Walker got a new job with a cleaning service. The flexible hours allow him to take jobs that don’t conflict with his parenting responsibilities. “I love working! It makes me feel like I’m part of something.”
Mr. Walker and his daughter are grateful for the stability. “I’m working, taking my daughter to school, cooking dinner, normal stuff.” Now that the basics are covered, he is working on saving a little bit of money to be prepared for his exit from Rapid Re-Housing. He looks forward to regaining his financial independence. “I’m just going to keep working – and I’m going to make it.”
