Raquel, a single mom, lost her job due to the COVID-19 shutdown. For two and a half months, she frantically looked for employment while her four school-aged children were learning virtually at home. She was fortunate to find a job that allowed her to work from home so she could also help her kids with their school work. Raquel struggled to pay her bills during her time of unemployment, and found she was unable to cover her rent. She first went to Social Services and was referred to a crisis hotline that led her to THRIVE. Raquel filled out the online application and got a call back from THRIVE. She was told she needed to get a copy of her lease along with other documents in order for THRIVE staff to assess her need. Once she had emailed the documents, she received a call saying she was approved for rental assistance, and a check was sent to her landlord. She cannot say enough good things about THRIVE. The staff she spoke with were very supportive. She was offered food from the pantry and had several follow-up calls with a financial coach. Raquel said that she previously paid her bills online using her phone without keeping a record of what she was spending. Now, she writes down all expenditures and itemizes her bills. By looking at her written records, she can determine what she needs and what she doesn’t need and stay within her budget. Raquel says, “I thank God for THRIVE! I wouldn’t have known what to do without their help.”'
Learn more about THRIVE Peninsula here.