Doorways For Women And Families

After escaping an abusive relationship, Kayla entered our Safehouse looking for a new start for herself and her son, Ben. Unemployed and with little money to her name, our Safehouse offered Kayla a safe and supportive space to get back on her feet. Early on in her stay, Kayla worked with her financial counselor to identify how she could improve the management of her personal finances—something that her former partner had tightly controlled. Through a thorough analysis of her finances and her credit report, the financial counselor supported Kayla in creating a plan to improve her credit profile and build savings while in shelter. Meanwhile, through her connection to the Arlington Employment Center’s VIEW program, Kayla actively engaged in efforts to secure a job. Through this resource, Kayla was eventually able to obtain a stable, well-paying position as a preschool teacher – a job that she aspired to. With employment, Kayla was now able to dedicate more focus in FIT sessions to work on her financial goals. By the time that she left the Safehouse, Kayla was able to save money, as well as repay several debts; she was even able to secure reliable transportation to facilitate her daily commute. Today, Kayla is in her own apartment and continues to engage in FIT through our HomeStart Supportive Housing program. With the support of her financial counselor, Kayla is well on her way to achieving new financial goals that will allow her to thrive in her new home.