How Sally and Her Daughters Conquered Challenges

Sally, a single mother of two girls, Rachel (4) and Sarah (6), was always able to balance her work and home life. Last year, though, the family faced an unexpected challenge when Rachel fell seriously ill and needed long-term in-home care. Living in a two-bedroom unit, the family now needed a three-bedroom space to meet Rachel’s health needs.

Sally found a new apartment, but with limited savings, she struggled with upfront payments for first and last month’s rent and the security deposit. That substantial expense, coupled with higher monthly rent and mounting medical bills for Rachel’s care, pushed Sally to the edge. After a few months, she fell behind on payments. The stress was taking a toll on her performance at work. Fearing job loss and potential eviction, Sally confided in Rachel’s doctor at Boston Children’s Hospital, who referred her to FamilyAid. She was connected with Diana, a compassionate case manager who became an instrumental ally in their journey. Diana helped find community resources and groups for Sally and the girls. She also secured a privately funded grant to catch Sally up on her bills, and the two worked together to create a new budget to alleviate some financial pressure.

Sally, Rachel and Sarah have been settled in their new apartment for nine months now. Diana and Sally speak regularly, and Sally’s community group friends have become a village of support for her. A few families share meals several times a week. The improvement in her financial and emotional well-being made an impact at work, too—six months ago, Sally was given a promotion with increased pay. Today, Sally, Rachel and Sarah are on the path to success.