Last November, a local mom reached out to Trident United Way through Thrive@School™ after being referred by the social worker at her son’s middle school. Facing an unexpected financial setback, she was at risk of falling behind on rent and losing the home she and her family relied on for stability.
She worked full-time as a customer service manager at a local grocery store and had lived in the apartment for three years. Staying in that apartment meant more than keeping a roof over their heads. It meant her son could remain enrolled in the same middle school, where he had built strong relationships with teachers and support staff.
Middle school can be a hard season for any child. Students are trying to find their footing, build confidence and discover a sense of belonging. A housing disruption in the middle of the school year could have made that already difficult season even harder.
Remaining close to her workplace was also critical for maintaining steady employment. The family’s financial hardship came after her partner suffered a workplace injury and was unable to return to work. Without access to leave that would protect his job while he recovered, he was ultimately terminated, creating a sudden loss of income that made it difficult for the family to keep up with rent even though they had been able to make ends meet before the injury.
Through Thrive@School™, the family received assistance that allowed them to remain in their home and kept her son from being displaced from school midyear. Thrive@School™ helps families access support before housing instability disrupts a child’s education, keeping students in the same classrooms with the same teachers, friends and routines they need to succeed.
Today, her partner has secured a new job with better hours and higher pay. She remains employed at the same grocery store, her son is still enrolled in the same middle school and the family is back on track toward lasting financial stability.
The family continues to work with a Trident United Way Family Coach to set goals, create a plan and take steps to avoid future setbacks. This is the heart of Family Coaching: meeting families where they are and helping them get where they want to go. It goes beyond one-time assistance. It is actionable, ongoing support that helps families reach lasting financial stability.
Thanks to that steady support, the family was able to not only weather a temporary crisis but continue moving forward without disrupting their child’s education or sense of security.
Your support helps families like this one stay housed, students stay enrolled and financial stability take root. Because every family deserves a stable home, and every child deserves a steady education. When both become possible, our whole community grows stronger.
Learn more about Thrive@School™ here.