You never know what you are willing to sacrifice for your family until you have no options left.
For DC mom, Dana Horne, making the decision to jump from a moving vehicle just to escape her abuser was the choice she made to save her life and build a better one for her children. “I was tired. I didn’t want my kids to see that abuse anymore. I promised myself the very next time the opportunity presents itself, I’m jumping….and I did it! I called the police for the first time, and I was not afraid for the first time!”
Leaving that domestic abusive relationship resulted in Dana needing housing and additional financial support. After being screened by the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center, the entry point in DC for all families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, she was eligible for and connected to Community of Hope’s homelessness prevention program. Our homelessness prevention program works to stabilize families at risk of becoming homeless through case management, budgeting, mediation, assistance with bills, and connections to other community resources. Dana was paired with a case manager and together they set an immediate goal to find Dana and her family safety and housing. “My case manager would not go home, until she knew I was safe.”
With the help from her case manager, Dana was provided with guidance and a variety of tangible resources as they searched together for an apartment. And even though majority of their interactions were over the phone due to COVID, Dana says her case manager always went the extra mile to make sure she had everything she needed. “She [case manager] did more for me than my mother did for me. She’s so special.” Housing stability and a hopeful future emerged when Dana’s case manager recommended an apartment that would become her own. “I got my keys, and it was a feeling like no other. I’ve been a lot of places in life, but I’ve never been here before – in my own place, in my own space.”
Support continued from Community of Hope as Dana was provided with essential household items like kitchenware and furniture to help her settle in her new home. Now that Dana has safe and stable housing for her family, she is eager to continue growing as an entrepreneur through her creative skills of making crafty baskets, homemade dinners, and offering interior design services. She also hopes to start mentoring the youth and, supporting other families experiencing homelessness.
“There’s no way I would have been able to make it without Community of Hope’s help. You’ve saved me from my most down time. I know Community of Hope truly wants to help.”
Visit our website to learn more about the housing programs Community of Hope offers to families throughout Washington, DC.
