For Alisha, the journey to stability has been filled with determination, sacrifice, and perseverance. As a single mother raising two children while attending school, she was working toward a brighter future when life took an unexpected turn. Just as she was preparing to begin a new part-time job, her daughter’s second surgery required Alisha to put her family first. As a result, the job offer was withdrawn, leaving her without the income she desperately needed.
Over the following months, Alisha searched tirelessly for work while balancing school and caring for her children. Rent and utility bills continued to pile up, and despite her best efforts, she fell months behind. After receiving a three-day eviction notice, she feared losing the first apartment she had ever been able to provide on her own.
Those fears were especially painful because, before finding housing, Alisha had experienced 10 years of homelessness. The thought of returning to homelessness with her young daughter was overwhelming.
Through a referral from HomeFirst, Alisha was connected with HIF’s Emergency Housing Fund. Determined to keep moving forward, she continued applying for jobs and, after a lengthy hiring process, accepted a full-time position with benefits. Around the same time, she learned she had been approved for an Emergency Housing Fund grant.
“This grant came at exactly the right time. It lifted a huge weight off my shoulders. I can finally catch up on bills and provide the things my kids need. It has truly been a blessing and has given me the motivation to keep pushing forward, even during the hardest times.”
The grant helped stabilize Alisha’s housing, ease the financial burden that had been building for months, and allowed her to focus on her new job and completing her education. Thanks to the generosity of HIF’s donors and the support of community partners like HomeFirst, Alisha and her children can look toward the future with renewed hope, stability, and the confidence that brighter days are ahead.
