Family Assistance Ministries used the platform to cover relational and financial gaps they faced, propelling clients to the following outcomes…
members enrolled
(30 actively engaged)
took 4 or more
action steps (516 total)
improved quality
of life measures
reached permanent
housing
Kate is a single mother and a domestic violence survivor. After battling homelessness for two years due to losing her familiar support network, she connected with FAM who then signed her up to become a Samaritan Member. Through the consistent support she received from FAM & the Samaritan community, Kate was able to find permanent housing & even go back to school. She is now back on track to building a life of stability for her and her children.
I didn’t want my son to grow up thinking violence is normal or okay.
Garnett arrived at FAM’s shelter with an 18 month old son and a bag of minimal supplies. After fleeing an abusive partner, she made the choice to reclaim her voice and work towards independence to show other women who may feel trapped in abusive relationships that there is a way out. After 5 long months of working with multiple housing organizations to secure a place of her own, she was finally able to open the doors to her own home and used the funds from her Membership to furnish it. Even though Garnett is now also employed - her major goals are to reunite with her older children, and be self-sufficient while guiding other women through similar struggles.
At 74 years old - Marisa was an Anthropology student expecting to complete her dream of graduating in 2021, before an unlawful eviction during the COVID pandemic forced her out of her home. The trauma of eviction and landing on the streets eventually brought her to FAM’s shelter, where she was offered a Samaritan Membership. With the support of FAM & her teammates - she was able to purchase glasses to help her re-focus back on schooling and also get into secure housing, where she is now on her way to accomplishing her goal of working as an Archivist.
putting the pieces back together one more time and rising up again like a Phoenix
Lida had been struggling with sobriety ever since being hit by a car in 2003. After moving to CA 7 years ago, she began to maintain longer periods of sobriety through a program - until COVID struck. She recognized her inability to maintain the solid sobriety she had achieved, and decided she needed to start over. FAM helped Lida use Samaritan to cover DUI program fees, along with paying for the transportation needed to complete the program. Lida has worked hard to get where they’re at, and has continuously shown the determination to keep going.
I am trying to rebuild the life I had before, and maybe one day I'll have my own construction company.
After a difficult divorce left them without housing - an anonymous veteran came to FAM’s shelter for help, determined to find housing in Orange County to stay close with their twin children. Even though their truck fell into disrepair and their tools were stolen, they were able to find a full-time job in construction and use the funds from Samaritan to pay for the transportation needed to show up to work. They’ve now found permanent housing with a veterans organization, and are focused on only moving forward.
My dream is to start my own non-profit because I know what it feels like on both sides and I really love helping people.
Sharon fled her abuser and found herself on the doorstep of FAM’s shelter - pregnant, and with two kids in tow. While her children began thriving in the local school district, Sharon was laid off after gainful employment due to the COVID surge. Sharon used her Samaritan Membership to pay for empowerment classes, and for the bus fare needed to attend school. Sharon is now in permanent housing after securing a new job, and wants to ensure her children can look back at this chapter of their lives with memories of stability & a place to call home.
After 8 traumatic years of domestic violence & 2 failed attempts at leaving her abuser, Summer made the choice to never go back home while in the hospital from the injuries inflicted on her. She was referred to FAM’s shelter, where she began to attend empowerment workshops & therapy from FAM case managers. Summer was able to use her funds from Samaritan to take 3 buses just to get to a job interview, which she ended up getting! She is now still getting settled into her new home, where she continues to work on her safety journey.