This family has been recommended by Project Hope.

It is a story now commonly told: A single mother gets laid off and unemployment benefits are not enough to support her and her two young children. But what happens next? For a lot of families, it is what begins a difficult cycle of homelessness. But that cycle can be broken if people like K get the help they need.

Since facing unemployment and eviction, K has had the traumatic experience of moving herself and two children-a baby and a toddler-into a shelter. The transition from gainful employment to homeless shelter was heart-wrenchingly quick, and made K realize the importance of getting back into the workforce as quickly as possible.

Since unemployment benefits have taken effect, K has been attending classes for certification as a medical secretary. She has found a new apartment where her toddler and baby can grow up safely. K’s primary focus is on creating a stable and nurturing environment for her growing children; having a secure home has been her dream since her nightmare at the shelter.

But the transition to this new apartment has been scary for K. She knows the unemployment checks are not quite enough to cover their expenses as a family, and the threat of having no heat this winter is imminent. K has recently begun applying for jobs at area hospitals and hopes to have consistent paychecks very soon. $1,000 by Nov. 20th gives a family that elusive security K has been searching for and heats their new home.


Project Hope is a multi-service agency at the forefront of efforts in Boston to move families beyond homelessness and poverty. It provides low-income women with children with access to education, jobs, housing, and emergency services; fosters their personal transformation; and works for broader systems change.

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