Let's Make It All Add Up!

Ashley's Story:

"I made a decision in 2011 that would take me on the best and worst ride of my life.

I was a single mom working two jobs and living in low-income apartments. I was disconnected from friends and family, and overwhelmed with the responsibilities of parenting and adulting. The deep shame of an unplanned pregnancy created these rifts in my life.

Desperate to rid myself of loneliness, I joined a dating website, where I met someone. He immediately started love bombing me. Everything seemed perfect as he swept me off my feet, buying me things, and even providing Kaylee and me a place to live.

It didn’t take long before he became emotionally abusive, but I was surprised when the cops showed up one night. He was arrested and taken to jail. The police called and asked me to meet them at the police station. “Did you know that he is a sex offender?” They asked. My heart sunk. I had no idea.

“If you stay living in the house with him, your daughter will be taken away.” The officer told me. Fortunately I had never left Kaylee alone with him. Kaylee is my world. Choosing between homelessness and my daughter wasn’t even a decision I had to think about.

We were immediately homeless. At that time, I was working one job, I didn’t have savings, but I did have a car. The shame and stress led me to quit my job. I couldn’t process everything. How was I supposed to work when I didn’t have anywhere to live?

I packed everything that could fit into my car. My daughter and I spent two days living in my car, sleeping behind the Hilltop Mall in the parking lot. Shame was spiraling me into even deeper despair and isolation.

Fortunately, this is where things start to get better.

On Wednesday of that week, I was invited to a women’s bible study. During that time, I finally broke down and told them everything. That night I was invited to stay at the pastor’s house. The next day I went to RAFT, Residential Assistance for Families in Transition, to apply for housing. Jubilee Center provided Kaylee and me a hotel for a week until my new apartment was ready.

When I moved in, it was completely furnished. We had nothing, but RAFT gave us a bed, plates, towels, and even a refrigerator full of food to get us started. For 2 years, I had 24/7 support. Finally, I was not alone.

During those two years I worked on my mental health. I took classes on child development, parenting, car maintenance, house maintenance and cleaning, and even learned how to run a lawn mower.

Kaylee went to Head Start, and I worked on my GED and then got my MedAid through CCC. In my college classes I started to make friends, too.

Eventually I was able to get a job working overnights with developmentally disabled individuals.

As I started to finish my time at RAFT, I got into HUD housing. RAFT provided me with an escrow to help with furniture. I came to RAFT with nothing, but I left with everything I needed. RAFT provided a safe place to heal and grow so that I could move forward in life, and I have never returned to homelessness.

Today, I have a strong relationship with my family and the continued support of the ladies at RAFT who I now call my friends. Kaylee is doing great. We live in Minden with my now husband. I have confidence, a great job at the hospital, and I’m able to contribute back to the community.

You didn’t hear me talk about United Way once in my story. And truthfully, I didn’t know the existent that United Way even played in my life until recently.

I wouldn’t be standing before you today if I had to pick only one agency for support. Yes, RAFT helped me the most, but if I hadn’t been able to take Kaylee to Head Start, or if I couldn’t get my GED, stay in a hotel, or get help after the abusive relationship, I wouldn’t have made it this far. There have been too many obstacles to overcome.

Funds from United Way were what made it possible for all those organizations to come together and lift me out of a place of complete despair and into growth. Donations from people like you allow United Way to continue to the support agencies that supported me.

Every day in Kearney, there are people who are just as I was, buried in obstacles with no hope. Unless they can get access to the resources provided through United Way funding, they won’t be as fortunate as I am today."

You can help create more happily ever afters for people just like Ashley. Will you give today so that more people can experience this kind of success?