Elsie Greenwood struggled to find childcare. Without working 30 hours a week, she didn't qualify for vouchers, but as a single mom, she couldn't work 30 hours a week until she had childcare.
When she moved into Community Rescue Mission (CRM), her case manager connected her with childcare vouchers through DHS. Not only that, but childcare also allowed her to get her GED through the Adult Education Center. Since living at CRM, Elsie has worked hard and made significant progress, and yet none of it would be possible without the collaborative support from community members.
Elsie now receives Medicaid, SNAP, therapy through Fort Smith Therapy and grief counseling through Grief Share, transportation through CRM, and has received additional assistance from Dawn and Noah with the Crisis Stabilization Unit, Patrick with 100 Families, and Danny with the Adult Education Center.
Elsie wished to thank Patricia from the Community Rescue Mission in particular, "It was Patricia that got me through it. Hearing her testimony helped me believe that I could do it."
Elsie is well on her way to being independent and has already achieved much success. Like Patricia's testimony helped her, Elsie is sure to have a testimony that will inspire others to believe that they too can be successful, despite the challenges they face.
Smart Justice is a magazine, podcast, and continuing news coverage from the nonprofit Restore Hope and covers the pursuit of better outcomes on justice system-related issues, such as child welfare, incarceration, and juvenile justice. Our coverage is solutions-oriented, focusing on the innovative ways in which communities are solving issues and the lessons that have been learned as a result of successes and challenges.
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