 PEC's food relief program increased services tenfold over the past two years to meet the need in the community. Urge State Legislators to Raise TANF Cash BenefitsJourney (name changed to protect privacy) is a domestic violence survivor. She was terminated from her job due to absences caused by the impact of the violence of the relationship. Soon, she and her child lost their health insurance, faced eviction, and did not have enough food. With the help of a legal aid agency, Journey applied for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, and Medicaid. The assistance is not enough to pay her rent and bills. Journey believes that an increase in TANF would help her maintain her housing and utilities until she gains employment to support her family.
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 Learning to Tell Her StoryBy Todd Hopkins
PEC's BELL Permanent Supportive Housing Program Manager Rha’sha is Building Early Links for Learning's newest Parent Ambassador. In that position, she is learning to share her story with other parents in Permanent Supportive Housing. She is hoping to do this as she engages families about the importance of early childhood development. She is very enthusiastic about child development. Along with being a Parent Ambassador, Rha’sha is currently working as an Assistant Teacher at an early childhood education program. She is currently taking classes online to earn her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She was asked to speak to a group of thirty eighth graders about her experience as a resident in the Permanent Supportive Housing system. This was her first time sharing it in front of a group of people. It is something that she wants to get comfortable doing. “I have a fear of speaking to crowds. I want to overcome that fear by being here today. I’m trying to help people while getting over my fear.” Rha’sha is clear about what she wants her next goals to be. “I want to own my own home and I want to own my own daycare. I love working with children. There is a lot that I want to. Everybody has a story to tell. I plan to get really good at telling mine.” For more information on the Parent Ambassadors and BELL-Permanent Supportive Housing, contact Todd Hopkins at thopkins@pec-cares.org. To learn more about PEC's Early Childhood Education programs, visit www.pec-cares.org/early-childhood-education. |