Rapid Transition Back to Stability

Some of our clients stay with us for extended periods as they work through their barriers to stability. Others just need a brief hand up as they regain traction in their lives. Ray is in the second group. He came to us about a month ago after being released from a two-year prison sentence. Although he had family in the area, going back to live with them was not an option.

He began staying in our Emergency Shelter at night, where Outreach & Engagement staff began working with him. They encouraged him to come to our Support Center in Maywood, and several days later he showed up for the first time. He met with one of the Case Managers and told them his story. After being evicted while incarcerated, he no longer had any of possessions. This included documents like his birth certificate & driver's license. Since he could not do much of anything without ID, the Case Manager immediately began working to secure the necessary paperwork.

When Ray wasn't meeting with his Case Manager, he was with our Employment Specialist, Betsy. He had experience in a factory, so that was where they began looking for jobs. Although a felony makes the job search more difficult, Betsy was able to find several positions with companies who believe in second chances. After the Case Manager secured the paperwork needed to obtain a new driver's license, she and Ray went to the DMV. After getting a duplicate license issued, Ray was eligible for employment. He went to several interviews, but was ultimately hired by UPS as a package sorter (22 days after first coming to us). He begins his new job this month, at which point he will have the income necessary to move into a new apartment. When this happens, he will be eligible for our AfterCare services, to ensure that he has the ongoing support necessary to thrive.   

While there is no doubt that Ray would have succeeded on his own, the wraparound services provided by PADS ensured that his period of instability did not last one day longer than it had to.