A Center for Strong Families client was working and doing everything she could to stay afloat. Still, she felt constant financial pressure as everyday costs continued to rise.
She had already made difficult decisions. She caught up on her mortgage, lowered her electric bill and avoided foreclosure. On paper, things had improved. But month to month, she was still falling short.
With the support of a Trident United Way Family Coach, she took a closer look at her income, her expenses and what it actually costs to live in the Tri-County right now.
What became clear was not a lack of effort.
It was the same gap tens of thousands of families across our region are facing: the gap between what people earn and what it costs to cover the basics. In the Tri-County, a family of four needs $89,900 a year just to cover the basics.
That is when things shifted.
They stopped trying to cut more and started looking for ways to bring more in. With the help of a Family Coach, they updated her resume, explored higher-paying jobs and talked through what steps she could take next.
“I never thought about getting a different job,” she said.
For many ALICE families, the challenge is not simply budgeting better. It is earning enough to keep up.
Sometimes, stability becomes possible when someone takes the time to sit with a family, understand what is standing in their way and help them see the next step. In this case, her Family Coach helped her realize that she had skills and experience that could lead to a better-paying job and a more stable future.