KINSEY'S STORY 

It's always interesting and amazing to meet one of our HomeStretch families. Very rarely are the stories the same, even if similarities exist between them.

I had heard about one of our single moms and the tremendous amount of debt she has repaid while participating in the program. For so many of us, just making ends meet is a good-enough objective; paying off debt is a noble, yet often-unattainable goal. Addressing debt, especially housing-related debt is part of the contract between HS and a family, but that doesn't make the task easy.

Kinsey (not her real name) moved into a HomeStretch unit in July of 2007. With her came two young children, very few belongings, health problems, and $15,000 of debt. That's a lot of baggage.

Needless to say, Kinsey felt alone and burdened. She was an educated woman-a bachelor's degree in economics from a university in Africa and another undergraduate degree in accounting from Oglethorpe University here in Atlanta. But, life circumstances had conspired to drag her down.

She had married, born two children, attended classes at Oglethorpe, and left an abusive marriage. Then near-disaster struck as she fell ill, was misdiagnosed, underwent surgery, tried to keep her job, developed a blood clot, and with the help of friends, kept caring for her children.

Coming to HomeStretch, however, marked a real change in direction. Kinsey was paired with a support team from Roswell United Methodist Church and began close contact with Monica Dubur, a family case manager with HomeStretch. An intensive look at what Kinsey owed showed that the vast majority was debt related to her illness and surgeries; she was very fortunate that her hospital stays had been covered through financial assistance, but that still left doctor fees, medicine, etc. All debt was categorized as to what debt might be negotiated down, what was housing-related, and which creditors needed to be repaid first.

Great idea in concept, but just two months after coming to HomeStretch, Kinsey lost her job, due to all the time she had missed work while sick. So, the immediate goal shifted to job searching, and again the family support team and family case manager were standing by her to help. There were numerous fits and starts with the jobs, all complicated by the need for child care-availability and affordability. Then, in April 2008, Accountemps placed her in a job with Seed America---a nonprofit that takes ownership of unoccupied industrial or manufacturing properties and then leases them to small business owners and entrepreneurs. She also applied to Habitat for Humanity, but her finances weren't in good enough shape for acceptance.

In early 2009, Kinsey joined another nonprofit called Lifespan Resources, which is a ministry of the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Buckhead, and put her knowledge of QuickBooks™ to work. She had found a home-her work week really was only a workday and all her pay was going towards childcare-but she felt needed, wanted, and able to contribute to the mission of Lifespan. Its programs provide lunch-and-learn opportunities for health, fellowship, and learning for those 55 and older who seek friendship and a reason for being.

That eight-hour shift turned into 36 hours weekly. It meant she and her girls could survive. In April 2009, she was approved for food stamps. Those two steps meant that perhaps she could do more to cut down her debt. Then, last August, Kinsey was approved for CAPS (Childcare And Parent Services), a program of the Georgia Department of Family Services! Right there, that freed up $400 each month, not to spend frivolously, but to build up some savings and again, to pay down that looming debt. Kinsey felt good enough about her family circumstances that she applied for the second time to Habitat.

Fast forward to March of this year: Kinsey was accepted into the Habitat program! She was one of five accepted, out of 80 applications received. She is attending classes, and started hammering and sawing this month to put in her required 50 hours of personal sweat equity. She already knows she can count on her family support team from RUMC-Helen Meola and Bob Moore-- to at least provide or find some child care while she works at the Habitat site. And she and Habitat officials have checked-this path to home ownership will not affect the CAPS money and food stamps that she receives.

"I thank the Lord for that! And I will move into a two-bedroom condo," said Kinsey. "I wouldn't even ask for a three-bedroom place. We'll just be happy to have a home."

She has been in the HS program for three years- -longer than the average stay, but this aided her request to join Habitat. Upon completion of the transitional program, Kinsey then became eligible for HomeStretch's affordable program (which offers clients the opportunity to continue to pay an income-based rent but requires them to pay their own utilities - helping them to become more self-sufficient and prepare for market rate rental housing or homeownership).

More good news came her way just a week or two ago. Her five-year-old daughter will attend Catholic school this fall by meeting all eligibility requirements for a G.R.A.C.E. scholarship (Georgia Residents Assisting Children's Education), a tax-advantaged fund for Catholic parishioners in the state. This is not just school for her first year, but funds will pay for her education through eighth grade!

But what about that nagging debt that mars Kinsey's credit record? That $15,000 has been whittled down to $2,600 and regular payments are being made to wipe it out entirely. Said Kinsey, "I am just so greatful (sic) that a place like Homestretch existed to help me get back on track for the sake of my little ones."

She also credits her employers and others associated with Lifespan Resources, who have really taken her under their wing. They have helped with a better-running car, other occasional expenses, and are contributing so the family of three can travel to Seattle in June to witness a sister and aunt's graduation.

"Working with Kinsey for the past 20 months has been such a joy, and her drive to succeed is absolutely inspiring," commented Dubur. "She is an exemplary client who works diligently towards her goals, and has chosen to make the necessary sacrifices in order to achieve her dream of becoming a homeowner and providing for her two little children. I couldn't be more proud of her and her accomplishments."