Transitional Living Center- Back to School Residents Find Support

Ah….September. That time of year where the smell of freshly sharpened pencils and sanitized school hallways bring about an enormity of emotions and anxiety for families everywhere.

Perhaps, this is your reality right now. You have set aside extra money for the latest back-to-school fashions, discussed who is going to pick up and drop off the kids, and signed them up for after school sports. You think, "Thank goodness I have the support of my spouse, my boss is flexible and understands the demands of parenting, and I have a solid group of friends to lean on." What if you didn’t have all that? What if you didn’t have any of it?

Today, at TLC we have many families facing "back to school issues." One single mother with a 7 year old daughter shares how difficult this time can be for a low-income single parent, who feels the pressure to make ends meet, and the societal pressure to buy the newest clothes and the most hip backpacks. She say’s "with the resources available at TLC and EduCare, this school year isn’t as daunting. EduCare will transport her and other school age kids to and from school, " lessening one pressure all parents face. Her daughter will also have supervision after school and she only pays $15 dollars a month for this service. Weekly meetings with her Family Support Advocate, a small parenting support group, and staff full of resources surrounding back to school needs, help her and other TLC families find the support they need to move from homelessness to independent family living.

At Transitional Living Center and EduCare, helping families grow is what the staff works on every day. Parenting is stressful. Being homeless compounds every issue, but having safe, affordable apartments with supportive services helps many families find their way out of a cycle homelessness that leaves children and parents stressed.

You can help by donating school supplies, back packs and other items this fall so these kids go back to school with confidence. Call Marci at 325-2959.