News & Events
“Here, I Have Time to Breathe”
Sarah was finally at a good place in her life. She’d won a custody of her daughter after being separated for almost two years. The hard part was supposed to be over. She was only supposed to be focused on being a good mom and provider. Then, her car broke down. Sarah had already spent her savings in the fight to have her daughter, so, she couldn’t pay for the repairs. Not having transportation meant that she had to quit her job, and when she couldn’t find a job in walking distance, she couldn’t pay her rent and they lost their home.
Sarah and Emma came to Atlanta Mission and decided to Choose Help. A few months after moving out of emergency mode, Sarah took a Needs Assessment, and decided to enter our Make Progress services. She began taking classes- including classes in parenting for her daughter.
At the same time, a behavioral therapist observed little Emma acting out in her childcare classes. She soon discovered that both Sarah and Emma had experienced some significant trauma, and they needed help to work through the emotional struggles and start fresh. In Make Progress, each family member works to address the root causes of their homelessness, learns to handle life differently, and finds a real sense of hope.
Sarah shared, “I’ve grown a lot since I’ve been here. I wasn’t in a great emotional state when I moved here. I was all over the place, and I couldn’t seem to figure out what to do. Here you get time to breathe. It’s a blessing to not have to worry about every little ting while I focus on what I need to do to succeed for my daughter”
When Sarah went back to school and decided to focus on construction, Atlanta Mission provided her with transportation. The rest of the Atlanta Mission community helped watch Emma while Sarah was training. Today, Sarah now has a steady job as a roofer. She’s excited to take her place in the community.
