In the months after she left an abusive relationship, Gina and her two daughters shuttled between the homes of friends and relatives while she worked to save enough money to get a place of their own. Gina and her family had a place to sleep at night, but her girls did not have a place to play or do their homework and they started to struggle at school. They needed a place to call home.

Families like Gina’s often don’t qualify for government housing programs because they don’t meet the federal definition of homelessness. MOM launched our Connections program this year to fill this gap and help families who are living in doubled-up arrangements find housing.

With the support of donors like you, MOM can do more to address this growing need in our community. The number of doubled-up students in Middleton-Cross Plains increased by nearly 85% in the most recent school year and in Madison, 80% of the students who identify as homeless are actually living in doubled-up arrangements.

Our Connections case manager works with clients in the program over the course of a year to define stability goals and work on strategies to maintain their housing security. With help from MOM, Gina was able to find an apartment in a neighborhood where she could watch her girls walk to school. Our case manager connected her to the resources she needs to keep moving forward, including groceries from MOM’s Food Pantry and clothing from our Clothing Center to help her kids start the school year. In their monthly meetings, they focus on Gina’s goals, including starting her own business. “Thanks to MOM and Connections, I was able to find some room to breathe,” Gina says. “I had forgotten how to be happy — now I am smiling again. Seeing my girls able to focus on their school and sports is worth everything to me.”

People who live and work in our community continue to struggle with rising food costs and the lack of affordable housing. With your help, MOM can offer access to healthy food, warm clothing and backpacks filled with school supplies. Our financial assistance programs help cover the cost of rent, utilities and auto repairs that can derail a monthly budget without warning and put families in danger of eviction.

Your gift can help children, parents, employees and neighbors in our community maintain housing and access to food, key determinants of well-being and health.