Rapid Rehousing Family in Rochester, MN
Kevin and Lisa reached out to The Salvation Army in Rochester, MN, at the beginning of June when their financial situation became quite dire. The two of them have several children with another on the way. Kevin particularly struggles with mental illness and the mental health challenges of their oldest child had prevented the family from being able to rely on childcare facilities in the community.
The family had previously navigated these struggles with Kevin regularly working and Lisa staying at home to care for their children. However, the health of multiple members of the family had recently resulted in Kevin missing such a significant number of days at work that he lost his job.
The job loss caused the family to fall behind on their rent. An eviction soon followed when Kevin couldn’t find another job soon enough to prevent the loss of their home. With four children to care for, without a place to live, and without an income, Kevin and Lisa called The Salvation Army social services office.
They connected with our case manager, Allison, who coordinates The Salvation Army Rapid Rehousing and Pathway of Hope programs here in Rochester. Rapid Rehousing provides rental subsidy for homeless families in Olmsted County, and Pathway of Hope provides case management and counseling to help families recover emotionally and spiritually.
In the week since the family officially joined the programs, we’ve connected both Kevin and their oldest child with services in the community to help stabilize their mental health. Kevin has found two jobs and Lisa is looking for a remote position that will still allow her to provide childcare for their children.
The family is staying with a friend while they work with Allison to find and move into a new apartment. Once they move into their new home, The Salvation Army will gradually decrease the amount of rental subsidy we provide to the family. The goal is, in a year’s time, Kevin and Lisa will once again be financially independent.
The family is also meeting regularly with Allison to set goals for themselves, and to talk through challenges so that she can help to identify and connect them with additional resources. These include food shelves, financial literacy programs, employment support, and counseling.
"We are so excited to watch Kevin and Lisa grow, and I know our whole team here at The Salvation Army is honored that we get to be a part of this new beginning for them," said Allison.
To learn how you can support people like Kevin and Lisa, please call 507-288-3663 or visit RochesterSA.org.
*Please note that the names of individuals have been changed to ensure their privacy. All events depicted in this story are true, and took place in Rochester, MN, in June 2024.