Women in Transition (WIT) - helping women to achieve self sufficiency

Click here to view Amy's story.

My wonderful son was just trying to be nice to me – he could have never known that lighting that scented candle to help me relax would result in a fire that would get us kicked out of our home.

I have always been able to support my four children, but I work as hard as I can and still scrape by – no emergency fund for instances like these…and no family…no team to help me through. So when we found ourselves homeless after that fire, my only dream was to find safe shelter for my children. I called over 40 shelters, both in and out of state, and no one had space for us. Thankfully, I finally connected with the YWCA’s Women in Transition program (WIT Cascade House's) and was able to move into the Cascade House. I felt like a total failure to my children and told the Y staff that I was terribly ashamed to be in this position. One of the Y professionals looked me straight in the eyes and told me that I should only be ashamed if I didn’t do anything about it. And that is the moment that I remembered my dreams – for myself and my family – and decided to work as hard as I could to get back on track.

The YWCA offered me 18 months of transitional housing. I am so proud to tell you that I reached all of my goals after just six months and moved my family back into our own place. During my stay at Cascade House, I retained reputable employment where I knew I could advance, I got back in school, obtained all the furniture and clothing we needed to move out, and cleared up some debt and worked on my credit. Today,  I have four semesters left in school and look forward to the day when I am a medical assistant with real benefits supporting my family without working two jobs or overnight. The YWCA helped me get back on track, pushed me to do what I had to do, and made me realize that the unexpected does not have to derail dreams. In fact, it can build resolve to make them even greater. Thank you. 

                                                                              - Amy Peat, Women in Transition graduate