Theresa Cross moved to Keene with her three children more than two years ago, looking for a fresh start. But that fresh start turned a bit rocky when her living arrangements didn’t work out. Theresa and her boys found themselves homeless for the first time in their lives.
"It was probably the hardest time of my life."
She reached out to Southwestern Community Services, one of Monadnock United Way’s partners, which found space for the family at one if its shelters. For five months, Theresa and her boys - then ages two, four and eight - lived at the shelter. Theresa worked hard with her case manager, and SCS was eventually able to find an apartment for the family and helped Theresa with her first month’s rent and security deposit. Theresa also found a full-time job, and took classes offered by SCS, including Tenancy 101 and Financial Skills. “I’m much more stable now,” Theresa said.
Theresa said her caseworker at SCS has been an amazing support system. “I couldn’t have done it without her.” Theresa is grateful for the support she found at SCS. “I know there are definitely more moms out there who need that little bit of a step to get where they need to go,” she said.
Monadnock United Way provides funding to SCS's Housing Stabilization Services program, along with other programs working to reduce homelessness, aspart of our focus on financial stability and basic needs.