Industrious Mother Achieves Employment After Her Apartment Complex Closes

Shay was referred to Welcome House (WHO) of Northern Kentucky when the complex she was living in announced it was closing for extensive renovations. One month later, Shay and her nine-year-old daughter, Khiarah, moved into WHO’s Gardens at Greenup.

WHO collaborates with the community to provide a continuum of services for individuals and families who are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Gardens at Greenup is a residential-based program of WHO for single parents and their children with on-site support services.

United Way of Greater Cincinnati is focused on ensuring that all families and individuals achieve financial stability. We work with systems and partners to guarantee that low-income working families and individuals have stable incomes and accessible financial resources.

Residents at the Gardens have their own individual case management plans, and are required to either be in school and/or working, maintain passing grades, and participate in budgeting classes, with a shared goal of becoming self-sufficient and, ultimately, financially stable. “Gardens is like a family,” says Shay. “We carpool to school together, watch each other’s kids, and meet regularly to share meals.”

Soon after Shay and Khiarah moved into the Gardens, she learned of an opportunity to be matched with a United Way Women’s Leadership Council (WLC) member who would act as her mentor.

The WLC is committed to making a positive impact on the community with a special emphasis on helping women become more self-sufficient. WLC members co-host regular workshops, including parenting, good health, resume writing, and financial planning classes for the residents.

Together for two years now, Shay and her mentor, Kathy Gaines, principal at Deloitte & Touche, share a mutual admiration. “Kathy gives me the valuable perspective from someone who has already worked hard to be successful and knows what my next move should be.”

With support from Kathy and the Gardens’ services, Shay became the first in her family to graduate from college last year, and is now working part-time as an advocate at the YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, another United Way funded program. “If not for the Gardens, I may not have graduated—they’ve helped me in so many ways.”

Kathy says, “Despite her significant challenges, she’s remained aspirational. Instead of getting discouraged, she got determined.”