Amanda’s Story–“DuPagePads has shown me anything is possible”
Amanda was just 19 when she suddenly found herself homeless after her uncle passed away. She had two young children and struggled daily to find a place to stay. “I never knew where we were going to sleep.” Amanda felt there was no other option but to stay at a different friend’s house each night.
Amanda found it challenging for her young children to always be quiet and on their best behavior as guests in her friends’ homes.
“I wanted my children to be able to be children and I knew we were wearing out our welcome.”
One of her friends told her about DuPagePads and Amanda began staying with her children at the overnight sites.
“Going from site to site was difficult…getting transportation was challenging, with having two kids and the weather changing, it was a real struggle.”
DuPagePads case managers worked with Amanda on a plan for stable housing. When an apartment in DuPagePads Supportive Housing Program became available, Amanda and her children were overjoyed.
“I love our home and having our own space. We no longer have to worry about where we are going to lay our heads down or wonder how we will get there. My kids have their own bed, toys and books and that means the world to me.”
Amanda’s goal plan includes continuing to work, purchasing her own car and eventually attending cosmetology school to be a hair stylist. To help Amanda succeed, DuPagePads linked her with daycare resources.
“DuPagePads helped me in so many ways. They are family to me.
Without DuPagePads I wouldn’t know what to do. I have them to thank for how good my life is right now.
I never believed it would be possible to have a place of our own, but DuPagePads has shown me anything is possible.”