A mother of six, Lakeya, and her children were unexpectedly uprooted when her landlord lost his property, and they were forced to move out in a hurry.
Despite working full-time as a bus driver and recruiter, with a low credit score and limited housing options, finding a new place proved nearly impossible. Leaving her with nowhere to go, she felt alone in the world.
“You get this sense of feeling you let your children down,” she shared. Lakeya made the heartbreaking decision to split her children between family and friends. Some nights, she slept in her car.
Asking for help required vulnerability, but she knew she couldn’t carry this weight alone. Grounded in her faith, she found the strength to keep moving forward. What she needed was a steppingstone.
That step came when she was referred to Volunteers of America’s Rapid Rehousing Program. At first, Lakeya was hesitant, but with her case manager advocating on her behalf and helping her work through barriers that once felt insurmountable, real progress began to take shape.
In just three short months, Lakeya regained financial independence and achieved housing stability. Though continued support was available, she wanted those same resources to be available to others still in need.
“I know what I have been through and I want to make sure others find that same support I did.”
What once felt like the end of the road became a turning point. She is now on track to achieve her next goal of home ownership and building a future her children can count on.