Cecilia found herself in a difficult position only a few months ago. She was making very low wages and could not afford to pay her rent. Some friends had allowed Cecilia and her two young children to stay in their home, but she did not want to overstay her welcome. Cecilia knew she needed stable housing for her family and a better job to pay the bills. She came to New Futures for assistance. Our Family Advocate worked with Cecilia to map out a plan for her to successfully support her family on her own.

The Family Advocate encouraged Cecilia to pursue schooling to improve her chances of obtaining a job with higher pay. The Advocate assisted Cecilia with getting childcare assistance from DSHS and informed her that this would be a good route for Cecilia as she could receive assistance from DSHS and go to school at the same time. Cecilia soon after enrolled at Seattle Vocational Institute and began studying to become a dental assistant. The Family Advocate also helped Cecilia apply for low income housing and Cecilia now has her own apartment to house her family.

Cecilia is almost done with her training and the Family Advocate is working with her to arrange for an internship at a local hospital. We often see Cecilia and her children at community events and activities with warm, smiling faces. With the support of New Futures, Cecilia is confident she can take care of her family with the plans for self-sufficiency she has made.

To read more inspiring stories about the kids and families of New Futures, visit our Story Archives.