A New Start Full of Hope
Maya fled her home country after she lost her husband amidst political violence. As a refugee, she had no family or friends in Indianapolis, had nowhere to live, and no way to provide for her children. Maya first heard about The Salvation Army Eagle Creek Corps Community Center through the Angel Tree program in the fall of 2019. While she was thankful to receive Christmas assistance, she knew she would need additional help learning how to provide for her family and establish herself in Indianapolis.
Lt. Joshua Hubbard met Maya during Angel Tree distribution and told her about the Pathway of Hope program. Pathway of Hope offers long-term case management and other resources to help families overcome poverty and become more self-reliant. The program is tailored to individual family needs and can include pastoral counseling, financial literacy, job placement assistance, healthcare resources, and more.
“People feel like they are falling behind and dealing with their problems all on their own, but we are here to help in their darkest hour,” shared Lt. Joshua. “What makes Pathway of Hope different is that we aren’t just helping with a one-time financial crisis; we are helping people change their lives and break the cycle of poverty. We have the resources, but they have to put in the work, too.”
Salvation Army staff started by helping Maya apply for asylum and secure housing while she waited for approval. She and her children were set up with an apartment and received rental assistance and furnishings for their new home. Once Maya’s application for a work visa was approved, she could legally obtain a job and quickly found employment through an employment agency. For the first time since arriving in the U.S., Maya was able to pay her own rent and support her family without assistance from The Salvation Army.
Maya and her children regularly attend church services and youth night at The Eagle Creek Corps Community Center. “Maya has taken the lead on her Pathway of Hope journey,” Lt. Joshua said. “She calls us to schedule her follow up appointments and meet with her case manager. There have even been times where she has called me to speak with her son when he was having behavior issues at home. I am so glad that she and her family have such a strong relationship and sense of trust with myself and the staff.
"When I see people we can help, I don’t see them as a number," he continued. "I see them as families we can help end generational poverty and help them transform their lives. We want our relationship with them to be less transactional and more relationship-based, and for our clients to be spiritually fulfilled.”