“I was lost, depressed, scared, and alone.”
Tia was struggling with severe depression when she was fired from her minimum-wage job. Unable to make rent, Tia and her nine-year-old son, Austin, were evicted from their studio apartment. With nowhere to turn and no one to help, Tia was desperate for a caring and compassionate community.
She got caught stealing a loaf of bread and two packs of lunch meat. After spending time in jail, Tia went to live in a halfway house and reached her lowest point yet. A distant relative of Tia’s- her only form of community at that moment – agreed to take care of Austin temporarily, but this relative was struggling with a drug addiction. On the verge of entering foster care, Austin longed for his mom and broke down in tears every time they spoke on the phone.
Tia knew she needed to do something different. She needed time to get back on her feet to be the mom Austin deserved, but wanted to be sure he was loved and safe while she did. When Tia learned about Safe Families for Children, she felt as though her prayers had been answered. Safe Families matched Tia with John and Emily Bennett, who opened their home to Austin and their hearts to their family.
Austin lived with John, Emily, and their four kids while Tia sought treatment for depression, secured a job, and located housing for her and Austin. Since that time, the two families have developed a close relationship and have provided support, resources, networks, and a sense of community through their church family. They celebrate holidays, birthdays, and major milestones together. When Tia shared that she wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, Emily and John supported her as she figured out how to achieve her goals, walking alongside her and opening up their networks and connections.
Safe Families for Children exists for parents like Tia who are isolated from the relationships and resources they need to be the parents their children need. Through a community of compassionate volunteers, Safe Families provides family-like support to keep children safe, prevent them from entering the foster care system, and strengthen families so they can remain together.