Today, Michelle and Brent have a warm apartment to call home where their 9-month-old son has space to play and explore. But less than two years ago, the couple was living unsheltered, battling substance use disorder, and uncertain about their future. Through determination and commitment, they have created stability and security for themselves and their growing family.
“We’re both doing really well. If it wasn’t for the help from Catholic Community Services, we wouldn’t be where we’re at today,” Michelle shares.
When the couple learned that Michelle was pregnant, they were determined to give their child a safe and healthy start. They committed to treatment, achieved sobriety, and began to search for stable housing. They moved in with Brent’s brother, but a few weeks after their son was born, the landlord lost ownership of the property.
Now with a newborn, Michelle and Brent were once again facing homelessness. They moved into a shelter, where they connected with Catholic Community Services’ (CCS) Family Housing Network which helps families experiencing homelessness in Pierce County find permanent housing.
“When I found out we were going to get help, it was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders,” Brent says.
Effective Solutions for Homelessness
The Family Housing Network team worked with Michelle and Brent to chart a route to stability. The team connected the couple with a landlord willing to work with families in crisis and covered move-in costs, helping the family find a place to call home after years of instability.
“We wouldn’t have been able to afford that. We would have been homeless with a newborn,” Michelle says.
This approach to addressing homelessness is referred to as rapid rehousing and entails short-term case management and financial assistance that helps people experiencing homelessness quickly transition to permanent housing. Research has shown rapid rehousing to be an effective and cost-efficient tool for addressing homelessness, with 70% of program participants finding permanent housing.
“This is a program that gives people second chances. It’s really hard to get a second chance, and I don’t know where we would be today without the help,” Brent says.
Alongside the Rapid Rehousing program, the Family Housing Network offers an array of other programs and services to support families experiencing homelessness in Pierce County, including case management, day shelter, referral to permanent supportive housing, veterans’ assistance, and more.
Across the CCS program network spanning Western Washington, programs served more than 14,000 people experiencing homelessness last year with services ranging from shelter to rental assistance to case management.
A New Chapter of Hope
The stability of permanent housing gave Michelle and Brent the foundation they needed to build toward a life they had always dreamed of. Shortly after moving in, Michelle secured work in the health care industry with CCS providing work clothes so she could start strong. Brent picked up shifts through a temporary employment agency and began a certificate to become a flagger. Today, they have both found full-time work and recently transitioned off of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, achieving a new level of independence.
“Going from homelessness and trying to get into a place feels almost impossible because it’s so expensive,” Brent says. “But just having that help, we’re at a point now where we’re fully self-supporting.”
With housing secured, the couple can focus more time and energy on what matters most: nurturing their family. This summer, they took a family trip and enrolled their son in swim lessons. The couple, now married, are joyfully preparing to welcome a second child into their family soon. After her pregnancy, Michelle plans to attend nursing school.
Through the partnership of CCS and their own unwavering dedication, Michelle and Brent have created stability for their young family and continue working toward a brighter future every day.
“Now that we have stability and we’ve built that foundation, we’re able to do things we wouldn’t be able to do if we didn’t have stability,” Michelle says. “We’re headed in the right direction and making improvements.”
With a gift to the 2025 CCS Appeal: Faith in action, you will make more journeys like Michelle and Brent’s possible. Please join us today to make an impact in your local community and provide hope and help to our neighbors who need us most.