Nat was pleased to share her story but requested that we not share a photo to protect the anonymity of her family.
Meet Nat, a woman with a positive spirit and unwavering determination, a loved and respected community member, and devoted mother of two boys and two girls.
One year ago, Nat faced a series of challenging life circumstances. She went through an emotional divorce with her ex-husband. The family experienced financial difficulties resulting in eviction from their home. Nat and her children experienced homelessness for eight months, staying at a family shelter in Minneapolis.
Nat was grateful for their accommodations at the shelter, but often felt overwhelmed in the tight congregate setting: “I was in a place with many people and families. I was having emotional ups and downs. My children were picking up some poor behaviors from the other kids, and parenting became difficult,” she says.
Growing up in Africa and immigrating to the United States as a young adult, Nat describes how her heritage, faith, and life experiences have created within her a resilience which she draws upon to teach and protect her children: “I was homeless. I made it through. Everything I’m going through, I have faith. I have strength, so my children learn they have to be respectful and work hard.”
Drawing upon her many strengths and the support within Simpson’s Family Housing program, Nat has achieved housing stability and peace of mind.
Nat remembers getting her first call from Simpson Family Advocate Jose in early March — right before COVID-19 became a reality in Minnesota. “Jose was so positive and encouraging—uplifting. He explained how Simpson’s program worked and would help my kids and me. We set up a time to meet. He was a blessing.”
Working with Jose, Nat set goals that were most important to her. She connected to mental health resources that helped her process the trauma of homelessness and her divorce. “Jose helped me take care of my mental health, so I could take care of myself and my children. I was able to have a clear mindset to make good decisions for my family,” she says.
Together, they navigated a cumbersome legal system, helping Nat finalize her divorce and secure financial support for her children. In addition, Nat worked to have past evictions expunged from her record, and two months later, she and her children moved into a three-bedroom apartment in Minneapolis.
At one point, Nat realized that the apartment the family lived in was too small and would not meet their needs. She asserted her concerns, and together, Jose and Nat were able to connect her to a larger apartment owned by her church. Nat pays her rent, and Simpson assists with a rental subsidy.
“The kids love having their own space and back yard. They also like going to church activities,” says Nat.
Nat appreciates the extensive support system that Simpson, her faith community, and other organizations provide. Church volunteers assist with childcare while she works her full-time job at a nursing home and an additional part-time job as in the home health care field.
Jose regularly connects with Nat through phone calls, texts, or face-to-face check ins. “Jose wants to make sure we are stable for the long-term. It has been helpful to talk with him. To have someone to lean on and trust. And help lead me in the right direction, she says.”
Jose recognizes Nat’s incredible strength and perseverance. “Right when I met Nat I knew she would be successful given her attitude, demeanor, and desire to take care of her children. The honest truth is that she has done all the work. It’s hard work to be a single mom. She has pushed through so many barriers. Nat has surrounded herself with amazing support because of her resilience and her kind heart. She’s thriving,” he says.
With their new home and peace of mind, Nat and her children prepare to move ahead. Nat is helping her children prepare for the new school year and distance learning. She is also setting goals for the family’s future:
“This is not the end. I’m going to work on my credit. I would like to move out of Simpson’s program and have my own house. I want to see my children grow up and go to college,” she says.
Simpson celebrates Nat and her family’s new beginning. Congratulations, Nat!