We hear the saying a lot, “A bump in the road”. Cambridge Dictionary says it means “something, usually something not very serious, that delays a process or prevents it from developing.” At POM we use it to describe a situation where a family that has been stable hits a “bump in the road” that causes them to temporarily experience instability. But, for these families, that bump not only feels serious, it can be incredibly scary!
That proverbial bump hit “Sarah” and “Brent” hard. They are young parents who both work hard to provide a comfortable home for their three small children. They have a modest mortgage and the usual bills that a frugal family would expect. They put healthy food on their table and, by using hand-me-downs and secondhand stores, they keep them in warm clothing and sturdy shoes. But, as so often happens in cases of crisis, lightning struck twice. Both Sarah and Brent lost their jobs within a month of one another. They had never really struggled before and weren’t sure where to turn. They found POM after doing an internet search and reading about Samaritan Services on our website.
They came in because their savings had dwindled, and they feared they’d lose their home. The thought of their girls having to sleep in their car was terrifying, but they simply didn’t have enough left to pay all their bills. While POM helps with rent, mortgage lenders do not participate in our voucher system and will not accept a third-party check so we could not help with mortgage payments (We never give cash directly to our clients). However, our case managers are VERY good at looking at a situation from several angles and finding a solution if there is one to be had! They sat down with the young couple and developed a plan.
Brent and Sarah learned that they could advocate for themselves with the mortgage company and they were able to work out a plan with their lender. Meanwhile, POM wrote a voucher to help with utilities to free up some of their remaining savings for other basic needs. They were invited to use the food bank to make even more dollars available. They were both already searching for new jobs, so we helped with gas vouchers to get to interviews. They both quickly landed new jobs but needed some help with screening and uniform costs, which we were able to provide. It took a few weeks and several visits to POM, but the young family leaped over that bump with a lot of determination and a little encouragement!
It’s been a few months now, but Brent and Sarah stopped by POM a few days ago simply to say thank you. They wanted us to know they were back on their feet, with jobs that can support all the needs of their family! We will see many clients like Brent and Sarah in the coming year. We wish to thank each of you for supporting us with your contribution to our Neighbor in Need campaign. Your contribution will touch lives in ways you cannot imagine.