For many families, asking for help is often the last thing they consider, even when they’re struggling to make ends meet. For single father Shawn, this was exactly the case.
Shawn had been through a lot: growing up in foster care, losing his father, and learning to rely only on himself.
He nearly lost his job after being evicted, but that wasn’t the end of his story.
By the time he connected with Santa Maria’s Stable Families program, Shawn had held steady employment for years, but he was still struggling to make ends meet for himself and his daughter. “I do stuff on my own,” he said. “But I heard about this program and thought it wouldn’t hurt to try.” That decision opened the door to new opportunities and support that would make all the difference.
He began working with Serah, one of Santa Maria’s Stable Families Family Support Workers. Together, they created a budget to cover everything from cell phone bills to his daughter’s school tuition and groceries. They also had honest conversations about parenting and personal goals. “It was more than finance and housing,” Shawn said. “It was like Santa Maria cared.”
Shawn didn’t just stabilize his housing and finances. He joined parenting classes to strengthen his relationship with his daughter, and he stopped drinking to save money and focus on his health. “Working with Shawn was great because he always took initiative,” Serah shared. “If he had a question, he’d ask. He’d look things up and follow through.”
Today, Shawn is financially stable. Inspired by his journey navigating rental housing, he now dreams of owning and managing properties to offer others the safe, stable homes he once needed.