In late 2008, an incident between Padao and her ex-husband finally led Padao and the children to a shelter. While separated from her husband, Padao made a commitment to change. She knew change would not come easily, because she had no money, no job, and had never lived independently. Padao and her children were nearing the shelter’s three month time limit, and they still did not have a plan. Padao didn’t know where she would find the strength to continue, but she knew that her children were counting on her.

 

Fortunately, Padao’s friend referred her to HAP, where she learned about the Family & Community Partnership program.  Padao’s FCP Case Manager worked with Padao to assess her needs and set goals for herself and her children. Securing safe and stable housing was the first and most urgent goal identified by Padao and her Case Manager.

 

Because she had been living in a shelter and was unemployed, Padao had no money in savings to pay the damage deposit and first month’s rent for an apartment. To overcome this barrier, Padao’s FCP Case Manager helped her access two local financial assistance programs, through which she secured the funds needed to move into an apartment. Once the apartment was secured, the next goal was to find furniture for her new home. Padao also accessed legal resources that enabled her to proceed with her divorce paperwork.

 

With the support of her FCP Case Manager, Padao has slowly built the skills she needs to live independently and provide strong, confident support to her children. Padao is currently enrolled in English classes at HAP, which will greatly increase her ability to find a job and access available community resources.  Through FCP, she also received the assistance she needed to register for public housing. Padao continues to take steps to stabilize her life and provide opportunities for her children to grow and thrive.