Thanks to her volunteer mentors, “Andrea” gained financial literacy, self-confidence and the ability to create a stable household.
When single mom “Andrea” applied to FamilyForward’s two-year program she was seeking more than just rent assistance. She had come to the conclusion that, despite having two children and working full time, she did not know how to be the head of the household for her family. Her lack of financial literacy made her feel like she was constantly in survival mode, barely scraping by every month. The inadequate parenting she herself had received did not prepare her for creating a stable home for her own children.
FamilyForward’s rent assistance freed up some of Andrea’s money so she could pay down other bills and start saving for emergencies. But the real change happened when Andrea began meeting weekly with her FamilyForward volunteer mentors. They started by asking Andrea to track all her income and all her spending, so she had a better idea of where her money was going. They provided a wall calendar so Andrea could have a visual reminder of every bill’s due date. They helped her develop a realistic, attainable household budget so she knew what she could afford to spend each week.
Gaining financial literacy and much more
Over time, and as their relationships developed, Andrea’s mentors talked about more than just financial literacy. They helped her talk through ways to set healthy boundaries with her ex, who was notoriously unreliable.
The volunteer mentors coached her on ways to avoid getting sucked into workplace drama and encouraged her to focus on the task at hand. They listened to Andrea’s concerns about her children and helped her identify useful homework and bedtime strategies to benefit the whole household.
As with all parents of young children, illness is Andrea’s biggest roadblock. During her two years in the program, the family faced RSV, flu, pink eye, lice, and a host of other conditions that took time, money and energy to nurse. Despite these hurdles, Andrea continued to work full time in her office job.
Finally feeling like the head of the household
Andrea’s hard work paid off. Near the end of her two years in the FamilyForward program, the small business she worked for was targeted for takeover and staffing cuts. However, the owner provided an excellent reference for Andrea and she was soon hired by a competitor at a higher wage. She also paid down some debt and brought her credit score up by more than 50 points.
But more important than financial gains, Andrea’s FamilyForward mentors helped her improve both her ability to successfully manage her finances and her self-confidence as the head of the household. In her final meeting, Andrea was asked to describe her most important accomplishment during the program. She responded, “I grew up a lot, mentally and emotionally, with the guidance and advice of FamilyForward.” Andrea’s statement echoes what so many participants through the years have said: The rent assistance is helpful, but the mentoring is life-changing.
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