Lisa and Andy

Lisa* is a 22-year-old mom to five-year-old Andy*. Lisa grew up in the foster care system and is determined to provide a more stable life for her son, so he does not grow up without a place to call home, as she did.

Couch surfing is difficult—especially while worrying about how to provide for a child. Lisa tried to find an apartment, but with limited income, she struggled to be taken seriously by landlords and nearly lost hope. That’s when Shelly from KidsVoice reached out and offered to work alongside her.

Shelly helped Lisa complete a lengthy housing application, obtain a copy of her birth certificate, and even delivered the application in person. Soon after, Lisa was approved for an apartment. Shelly also connected her to a program for former foster youth that provided assistance with the security deposit and helped secure basic furniture for the new home.

After moving in, Lisa encountered a safety concern when bees began entering the apartment through a faulty ventilation fan. Worried about Andy being stung, she again turned to Shelly for help. Following an inspection, the issue was addressed and the ventilation fan was repaired.

With stable housing in place, Lisa has been able to focus on building a future for her family. She is currently studying at CCAC to become a sign-language interpreter. Once she has a job, her next goal is to save money to purchase a car which will make it much easier for her to take herself and her son rather than rely on the bus system.

Lisa knows how important it is to have someone who believes in you—especially during times of transition, when many families need extra support. She is grateful to have Shelly by her side. Through KidsVoice, Shelly also made sure Lisa had gifts to give Andy for Christmas, helping ensure the holidays marked a brighter chapter for their family. Lisa is hopeful that Andy’s childhood will be happier and more stable than her own.