A local hero

We’re honored to recognize Kristy Houck, Counselor for the Family Preservation Intervention Program for helping a family in need. Sharon Fadul, Program Supervisor, shares this note she passed on to Kristy:

Kristy,
Bless your kindness. Today you definitely went above and beyond for your family. When you first received the case, the mom was not willing to participate but you convinced her that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You helped her financially by utilizing other agencies’ funds and our flex funds; unfortunately, this single mom and her six children were about to be homeless before the end of the week. Today, you changed her life forever. You researched all possible shelters in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach and every one of them had a waiting list. While performing this search you found a "Family Reunification Program" which offered immediate relocation to the nearest family member by bus, whom in this case live at Port Saint Lucie. The "bus" program will pay for all bus tickets from Fort Lauderdale to Port Saint Lucie. Right there you helped get this family a place so they can be all together and under a roof for the holidays. You drove them around town to sign releases for the "bus" program, to lookfor affordable storage and to purchase groceries. You picked the children up at school and got all the family together, packing their belongings before the eviction was executed. You came back to the office to pick up the "Steppin’ Up" shoes for this family and went back to their house to drop off the shoes for the six children.

Tomorrow this family is going to be on their way to a bright new beginning. They will have a support system, a job and plenty of opportunities right next to their family members.

Thanks for granting this family their true wish…to stay together. Thank you for changing the lives of those who are less fortunate.