I was born and raised in Michigan. I moved to Washington the year of 2010
with my family. It was bound for a new beginning but it didn't turn
out that way. My family and I up and left all our family to move here
with family on my kids dads side. My kids dad had a bad drinking problem
that left myself and my kids homeless. I didn't know what to do in
a big city all alone. I felt hopeless and a huge failure to my kids. My
sister ended up moving over here and I was determined to get our life
on the right track. Needless to say we struggled for about a good year.
It started with living with random people who had rooms for rent to getting
a hotel when we came up with money. I was determined to make things better.
I knew my kids as well as my sister were looking up to me and I couldn't
let them down. I finally landed a job, but then we were again homeless
for a bit. I hated my job but I was thankful it was something. I eventually
ended up getting a car and we were able to get around a lot quicker. We
stayed in hotels as that was all I could find for a good while, not making
enough money made it very hard o find a place to rent here in the tri-cities.
I applied at apartments but it was a struggle due to the amount of application
fees we had to pay. I prayed and prayed we would find something It was
to the point I made myself sick because I was scared, I didn't know
what to do or if we would ever find anything, but I knew people were looking
up to me and that was my family. So I continued to work my butt off despite
the fact my family was in a hotel. I couldn't remember the last time
we had a home cooked meal. Everything I had once taken for granted was
then something I couldn't wait to have again, something as small as
a warm meal in a warm home. So there was this apartment I went and applied
for. I remember walking downstairs and seeing a stack of applicants paperwork.
I thought to myself, I'm doomed, there's no way he will give it
to me when he has so many others who I'm sure are better qualified
than myself. But I didn't give up hope and I stayed positive. I remember
driving home from work I get a phone call, it was the landlord from the
apartments letting me know I could go and pick up the keys to my new place.
I was so overjoyed, I cried such happy tears and I thanked god over n
over. I called my sister and that was the best news we had gotten in months.
I remember walking into the apartment with nothing but my family and the
clothes on our backs. I didn't even care that we had nothing but we
had each other and we finally had a home. Little by little we were able
to buy things but still difficult with only one income. Moral of my story
is that even when things are bad someone always has it worse. I could
have given up but look at what happened because I didn't. I now have
4 beautiful children and a sister who is the most amazing person in my
life. We now have a 6 bedroom home that we just recently bought. Life
does get better and even though we still have bumps in the road we yet
to give up.