Safe & Stable Homes: Elise & The Cathedral Center
*Names have been changed for privacy.
Elise said that she wasn’t running. She was surviving.
Coming to Milwaukee, Elise and her children had very few possessions, but a lot of hope. Domestic violence had forced her to leave everything she had and knew behind her. She spent the last of her savings to afford a small hotel room. Then she found The Cathedral Center.
The Cathedral Center provides a safe environment for women and families while working to end homelessness. Their Community Case Management program, which receives funding support from United Way’s Safe & Stable Homes initiative, serves unaccompanied women and families with children who are at risk of becoming homeless or experiencing a housing crisis. They do this by tailoring individual plans for achieving independence focused on securing stable housing, increasing income, and boosting health and well-being.
Community Case Managers, like Sophia, identify the barriers and struggles that families face when they’re at risk of becoming homeless.
Sophia’s role is not built for reaction. Her role is built for prevention.
She listened to Elise and helped her with finding services that would help to overcome her housing insecurity. Within a week, Elise had what once felt impossible. She had applications for housing and housing assistance. Her children had essential supplies like clothing and food.
And within two weeks, she had a signed lease with rent and security deposit assistance from The Cathedral Center. Elise and her family now have more than hope: they have been safely and stably housed for over six months.
By donating to United Way’s Safe & Stable Homes initiative, you can help organizations like The Cathedral Center move more families from instability to being safely housed. United is the Way we help families like Elise’s move from hope to home.