Without Good Shepherd, it would have been nearly impossible for my family and me to find affordable housing. This housing opportunity has provided stability for myself and my children. My children have been able to participate in extracurricular activities while maintaining stable housing and school schedule. We no longer worry about where we will be sleeping or how the children will make it to school.  We had issues with school attendance because where we were staying was too far from their school. Now the school is near our residence, and the school bus can pick them up from home. Additionally, my oldest son now has his own room. We have gone from sharing a room to my children having their own room, separate from mine. I cannot explain how excited my oldest son was to hear that he would have his own space.  
Furthermore, Good Shepherd has helped me continue my process of completing the Nursing Program. Before coming to Good Shepherd, I was extremely worried about how I would afford the rent prices for “affordable housing.” I would have to work overtime to afford rent. Working 40+ hours and attending school full-time would have been very difficult. Now I am working, attending school full-time, and maintaining a 3.6 GPA. The goal for my children and me is to gain and maintain financial stability so that I can provide for them and myself. I am halfway through the Nursing Program, and without Good Shepherd Housing Foundation, I may have had to withdraw from the program.  My family is tremendously blessed to be presented with this housing opportunity. 

My husband and I, along with our two children had spent a summer homeless. We moved from motel to motel until family were able to take us in. We had to vacate when the landlord decided to sell the property. My husband then did an online search and found Good Shepherd.  We could hardly believe it when we were accepted into the program. Everyone was so incredibly kind and understanding of our situation. All of our previous experience with assistance programs, we were met with shame and judgment; that was not the case with Good Shepherd. Our case manager helped us manage our cost-of-living expenses and we were able to set and meet a savings goal for the first time.  After we had lived in our current residence for a year, our youngest child told all his friends we were moving. He told us it’s because, “We always move.”. He was ecstatic when we told him we were staying. And we felt extremely proud and blessed to be able to say that. 
     Good Shepherd Housing Foundation has given our children stability they hadn’t previously known.
They literally provide lifesaving resources and we couldn’t be more grateful for all they do.

I first heard about Good Shepherd Housing about three years ago while searching for affordable housing. I fell on hard times after losing my job due to a medical injury, which caused a lot of stress as a single mother. This eventually led to me facing homelessness. Fortunately, my children and I had relatives who allowed us to stay with them temporarily. I actively checked their website for open vacancies and, despite facing rejection a few times, I never gave up. I knew that the help I was looking for would eventually come our way. I worked hard and kept my faith, and Good Shepherd Housing Foundation saved my life.
I was feeling defeated by the cost of living and my credit challenges, but Good Shepherd Housing Foundation took a chance on helping me and my family. We moved into our 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom townhome on January 1, 2024. Prior to receiving my keys, my kids and I were staying with a friend and were asked to vacate within 30 days. The timing of getting our new home was the biggest blessing. I woke my kids up on Christmas and drove them to show them our new home. They expressed that it was the best Christmas ever. It was a very emotional moment that my family and I will never forget.
Participating in Good Shepherd Housing Foundation allowed me to connect with my assigned case worker, set goals, and work towards achieving them daily. It provided shelter stability, allowed my children to be happy and grateful daily, and enabled my family to benefit from available resources for low-income families. The Good Shepherd Housing Foundation is a blessing. They truly care about helping families in need, and I am grateful for everything they are doing for our local communities and families.