Stories

Connections in Your Community

We recently introduced our Connections program and now we would like to explain how community members can get involved.

Introducing Connections

Housing Stability • Housing Assistance • Connections Program

Connections is a housing program that aims to support households that are in doubled-up living arrangements to transition into stable permanent housing. Doubling-up is when an individual or family lives with another household temporarily or shuffles between homes because of economic or system barriers.

Creating Stability for Our Neighbors

Michelle first contacted MOM to ask about getting access to the food pantry. In a shaky voice, Michelle explained she was caring for a sick family member, working part-time and attending school full-time. No matter how hard she tried, stability always seemed just out of reach. With your help, MOM was able to help Michelle through this crisis. With your continued support, we can do more than provide emergency assistance. We can help families in our community reach stability.

Creating Stability Then and Now: MOM's Stable Housing Program

MOM News • Housing Assistance • Housing Stability

From the beginning, MOM has worked to create housing stability and prevent homelessness, utilizing a variety of programs to address the housing needs of people in our community. Those efforts continue to today. MOM gave out 516 grants last year as part of our Stable Housing Program which now includes rent assistance, Good Samaritan funds and utility assistance.

Help us build stability.

MOM News • donors • Housing Stability • Housing Assistance • Client Stories • Food Pantry

MOM's Housing Stability program is designed to assist individuals and families in maintaining stable housing through budget and employment counseling, negotiation and advocacy with landlords, referrals to community partners, and financial assistance designed to access and maintain affordable housing and/or prevent eviction for at-risk families.

Working Together to Create Stability

Donors • Housing Assistance • Food Pantry • MOM News • Poverty Facts

Nick* and Brenda* were working hard to care for their boys but just making ends meet. Then Brenda’s mom, who cared for their kids while they worked, suddenly became ill. Brenda had to quit her job to stay home with the kids. With almost no savings, money was running out fast. That’s when they learned about MOM.

Changing a little piece of her story, together.

MOM News • Food Programs • Housing Assistance • Donors

To me, there is nothing more important than using our lives and our voices to do what we can to create an equitable community. There is nothing better we can do than to act.

Not just an orange, an opportunity

Client Stories • Collaborations • Food Pantry • Housing Assistance

Both Amira and Ayden worked. The pay wasn’t great for either of them, but they managed. They lived in a small but tidy apartment with their daughter and paid all their bills on time. Then a medical setback threw a wrench in everything. MOM helped them get nutritious food such as fresh, juicy oranges. Even more importantly, it offered them the opportunity to get a new start.

Not just a carrot, it's confidence

Client Stories • Collaborations • Food Pantry • Utility Assistance • Housing Assistance

When Carol unexpectedly lost her job, MOM helped her pay her utility bills and provided her with some monetary assistance to pay rent and avoid eviction. Carol was also able to bring home carrots, cheese and cereal from MOM's food pantry to feed her family during that stressful time. After a year of unemployment, Carol now has a full-time, managerial position in Madison at a biotech company that pays well and enables her to once again feel confident about herself and her future.

Not just an avocado, it's advocacy

Client Stories • Collaborations • Food Pantry • Housing Assistance

A single mother of two children, Brenda was working at a full-time job with benefits when she moved into her apartment. She had a Section 8 voucher to help pay for her housing, and she felt like she was on the road to stability. But when her daycare plans fell through, she missed several days of work—and lost her job. She soon fell behind on rent. When her apartment management started the eviction process, Brenda was scared. She didn’t know where to turn. Then she found out about MOM. MOM helped her spaghetti, avocados, school supplies for her kids--and an advocate to help negotiate with her landlord.