Dear Friends,
Many of our neighbors are one crisis or mishap away from homelessness -- a missed paycheck, an unexpected expense, or a medical issue. But the opposite is also true; some of our neighbors experiencing homelessness are one small step -- or one new outfit -- away from stable housing.
One woman, Kira, arrived in one of our partner shelters with only the clothing she and her children were wearing. Soon after arriving, Kira received several outfits from Circle of Hope, but she had only selected a few comfortable pairs of sweats for herself, instead prioritizing new outfits and shoes for her children.
With the help of shelter staff, Kira worked toward stability for months. When she was finally able to assemble all of the paperwork, references, and everything else she would need, she scheduled an appointment for an apartment showing. But after all of her diligent efforts, one thing almost derailed it all: Kira had nothing to wear to the appointment.
Fortunately, shelter staff knew just who to ask. After Circle of Hope's next delivery, Kira was able to choose a nice pair of jeans, a button-down shirt, a jacket, and a new pair of shoes to wear to her appointment. With newfound confidence, Kira went to the apartment showing and secured a home for her family.
Kira and her children were literally one outfit away from stability, comfort, and long-term wellbeing. Thank you for making sure she had what she needed to move forward.
With all my gratitude,
Ari Barbanell, Executive Director
