Will it be Enough?

"Will I get enough hours to pay my bills this month?" That's the perpetual question asked by those of who work an hourly job, at the mercy of our employers. Many of you know what I'm talking about. "Mark" certainly does. He is a single father, who came to POM looking for help with an eviction notice. His employer had cut his hours due to lack of work. As happens with so many of our clients who have never had to ask for help, he had waited until he was desperate, facing eviction, with bare cupboards. "I don't know what to do, I've never had this problem. I'm at a loss. How do I feed my children?"

Asking for help isn’t easy. It doesn’t come naturally for some. POM is a safe, warm and welcoming place for those mustering the courage to ask for help. Our receptionist listened to Mark, helped him to know he wasn't alone. She signed him up for food bank and gave him an emergency food bag to hold him over until Wednesday's food bank.

Mark also chose to stay for case management where he was able to get help with his rent to avoid eviction. Now he can breathe! Our case managers helped him with a plan to use the food bank as much as possible, freeing up his income to go toward rent in the months to come.

Mark may not be completely out of the woods if his hours don't pick up, but at least now he knows he has a place to go where people will listen, understand, and will work to help him find a way. No one in this community is alone. POM and our army of volunteers, donors and supporters are here. There is always hope.