Rental Assistance Leads to Gainful Employment

James* was sleeping on a friend’s couch in Williamsport we received a referral for him. He could only stay with the friend for a few more days before he needed to find yet another place to land. When he met with his CAA case manager, he hadn’t worked a steady job in almost a year and was struggling to see a path toward stability.

James’s ultimate goal was to find his own place so that he could get a job and have his kids come visit. Growing up in a family of 6 siblings, he had never known his own father. He said his mother had her issues as well and was the kind of person he had to “love from afar.” Because of his experience, James wanted to be an active participant in his children's lives. So, this was the motivation behind everything he accomplished with us.

With support, James quickly found a rental in Lewisburg that was affordable and close to employment opportunities. He applied for several jobs and gained employment with a local manufacturer making $19.00/hour, close enough to his new rental that he could ride his bike to work each day. He was excited for the opportunity to gain new skills and show what he could do.

Now, James has his kids overnight on weekends, loves his job and his employer, and is working on his next big goal of saving for a car. In his last messages with his CAA case manager, James wrote:  

“I am very proud of myself [for] fighting through day in and day out…it’s coming together. Thank you so much I really appreciate it. Working towards my goals is what my mind is set on. The job is amazing.”

James's story is a familiar one, because poverty is a cycle that most of us can't escape on our own. It's complex and all-consuming, and it's almost impossible to stabilize yourself when every critical aspect of your life (housing, food, employment, health) is faltering at once. This is why assistance programs like ours are not just helpful, they're imperative for breaking the cycle of poverty so that members of our community can escape instability, build security for themselves and their families, and contribute to their communities in ways that benefit and strengthen us all.

Needing a helping hand shouldn't feel shameful--in fact, given James's situation, most of us would need it too. That's what CAA is here for.

To help support our work in the community, donate today at union-snydercaa.org/give or click the Donate button at the top of this page.

*Client name changed to protect privacy.