Christine's Story of Wisdom

When she saw a homeless person on the streets, Christine used to wonder, “How do people end up like that?”
 
Then it happened to her.
 
She wasn’t alone. In fact, 56% of our newest clients are homeless for the first time due to the economy. Demand for Women’s Empowerment’s program continues to expand.

We have always been fortunate to have the support of caring community members like you to help women like Christine get back on their feet. In these difficult times, we depend on our community even more. If you have a little extra to spare, we could use your help. Any amount will help open doors for a newly homeless woman and her children.

Christine is a determined, kind, and hardworking mother of two teenage children. The blond-haired, blue-eyed woman looks like the mom next door. She “worked overtime with jobs on top of jobs” to make ends meet. Without a high school diploma, her options were limited, but that never stopped her. She worked hourly at a local health food store, running a small business on the side to supplement her income.

Yet, despite her best efforts, in the bad economy, she first lost her job, and then her apartment. “I knew I hit bottom when I was eating bologna in my truck, my registration was about to expire, I had no gas, and I had depleted my savings,” she recalls. Her daughter moved in with family friends, and her son enrolled in college and found his own job and apartment.

When asked about her children, Christine’s eyes fill with tears. “It’s hard. It’s not exactly something to brag about—that your mom is homeless,” she confides. “But I taught them to be self-sufficient. My son just started community college. He couldn’t afford to buy the books, but he still got straight A’s by taking good notes,” she tells us through tears.

When Christine heard about Women’s Empowerment, she wasn’t sure what to think. “How much can you grow in eight weeks?” she remembers questioning. “Then again, in ten weeks I lost everything, so maybe in eight weeks I could get some of it back.”

You can help a woman like Christine get back some of what she’s lost this holiday season. Please make a donation today.

At Women’s Empowerment, Christine is surprised by how much she’s regaining. “I feel less fragmented. I’m building a strong foundation,” she says.

She’s building this foundation through a comprehensive package of programs, including parenting and nutrition classes, computer training, help updating her resume, one-on-one counseling, and so much more. “It feels empowering. And even that isn’t a strong enough word,” she shares.

This holiday season please keep women like Christine in your thoughts as they rebuild their lives. Your donation can help them become empowered, giving them back the courage they need to succeed. Please make a gift today.

Christine looks forward to graduating from Women’s Empowerment this month. Her children will attend to watch her receive her first diploma. She can’t wait to share this proud moment with them.

In fact, her success at Women’s Empowerment has given her the self-confidence to hope for a better life for herself. “I didn’t go past the eighth grade. I’ve thought about getting my GED, but I didn’t have the confidence. Thanks to Women’s Empowerment, now I know I can deal with my fears. They linked me to resources to take the test. This time, I’ll be ready!” she declares with confidence.

Help women like Christine build the confidence to pursue their dreams and build a better life.

With your help, homelessness can end for these families—permanently. Thank you for your generosity.