Family Spotlight: Veatrice

Six months after she was laid off, Veatrice was evicted from her apartment. Her car was stolen. She was afraid to enter a program for homeless families because she’d heard so many stories about what they were like. “I needed somewhere to lay our heads at night, but I wanted something safe and secure for my son.” A friend assured her our program could provide what Veatrice needed.

Although she found it challenging, Veatrice speaks fondly of her experience in our residential interim housing program, formerly called New Life Community. Her internship placement through the job readiness program led to full-time employment. Veatrice names budgeting the most important skill she learned while she was here. She states, emphatically, “I didn’t LIKE it, but it helped a lot.” Today Veatrice and her son live in their own apartment.

As she heads back to school for a degree in counseling, Veatrice credits staff members for offering support and encouragement. “They kept telling me I was smart, and noticed things about me I’d never looked at before.” Thanks to her hard work, and the opportunities she found while in residence at what is now Family Promise of Greater Cleveland, Veatrice’s future is as bright as her smile!