Helping When It’s Needed Most: Kelly’s Story

Kelly and her two teenage kids lived with Kelly’s mom so they could share the cost of rent. After her mom died, Kelly struggled to find a place to live because of a prior eviction on her credit report.

As she began to pick up the pieces of her life, Kelly and her children were forced out of the rental unit when her mom passed and spent the next few months trying to find a place to live. But rising rent prices and the old eviction automatically disqualified her applications from being accepted.

The family had no choice but to live in their car. With an adult-sized son and daughter, space was tight in the car, often causing tension and intense disagreements. Kelly’s son stayed with friends when he could, but the separation was hard on the family.

Kelly sought help from UMOM, and once a room was available at our family emergency shelter, the family was finally able to live together comfortably in one space and focus on the future. Kelly continued to work and get counseling. Our housing specialists worked diligently to help the family find an affordable home with a washer and dryer – amenities Kelly never had in a rental before.

Kelly, her son and daughter (not pictured) are now in an affordable unit, where they plan to stay long-term.

Kelly says the help she got from UMOM has changed her life.

“We’re a family and we’re together and, we are happy again. And I owe that all to UMOM.”