a fresh start and supportive community for Tara’s family
Tara, a dedicated single mom, was working hard to provide for herself and her family. But after the birth of her youngest child, her minimum-wage job could no longer cover the cost of caring for her family. Unable to get more hours at work, she began falling behind on bills. On top of that, the sudden, tragic loss of her brother—who had helped with childcare—was a huge setback that ultimately pushed the family into homelessness.
Ever a determined mother, Tara filled out an outreach request form on Mary’s Place website. That same day, a mobile outreach team member met her at the parking lot of her job, where she and her children, including her newborn, had been sleeping in her car. The outreach team immediately provided blankets, diapers, and protein-rich snacks, offering relief for the young family in a moment of urgent need.
From there, the team continued meeting with Tara to discuss what she could afford, her long-term housing goals, and where she envisioned building a new community of support after her brother's death. She connected with our housing locators, who helped her navigate the process and identify opportunities for stable housing. When the GD Association reached out about a vacancy in a family-sized unit in one of their supportive housing buildings, our team knew Tara and her children would be a perfect fit and could benefit from the extra support as they rebuilt their stability. Outreach team members worked with her through the application process and provided support every step of the way.
The result? Tara and her children were approved for a two-bedroom unit in a building designed with safety and dignity in mind. Their new community offers residents a chance to regain independence and build a better future, with accessible amenities and support services that help create a foundation for long-term success. Tara now pays 30% of her income in rent, making it affordable and sustainable for the long term. The Mary’s Place Make-a-Home program ensured the apartment was move-in ready, complete with furniture, so the family could settle in comfortably.
"Thank you for showing up and showing out. It’s nice to know people in our community care for our well-being,” shared Tara. “From my outreach worker who really looked out for us while we were sleeping in my car, to the folks behind the scenes at Mary’s Place, and the kind-hearted people who donate their money, thank you for helping me and my babies find a place to start over.”
Tara’s story is a powerful reminder of the difference community support, partnership, and hands-on advocacy can make.