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 It was a bright, white spotlight that woke eighteen-year-old Becky from a restless sleep. Someone was tapping on her window. A rush of fear coursed through her body, but then she heard who it was: “Wake up! Police!” She rolled the window of her car down a few inches and talked to the officer.
Dana, her 3-week old daughter, was awaked by the voices and the cold air on her face. She began to fuss and cry. The officer told Becky to drive to the police station, and followed her closely as she drove. Becky’s heart was now racing with fear of a different threat—what was going to happen to her and Dana now that the police had her?
At the station, she told the officer about the terrible night her abusive, alcoholic mother found out Becky was pregnant. Her mother kicked her out that night. The birth was covered under her mom’s insurance, but that was all she would have of her daughter and new granddaughter. That was two months ago, and for a while, Becky and the baby stayed overnight with a girlfriend who had an apartment. But the friend was living with her boyfriend, and last week Becky had to leave for good. She had been living in her car since then, trying to figure out what to do.
The local family shelters were all full, so the officer sent her to a nearby hotel. She met a Heartland Family Service PCHL caseworker the next day, who made sure both mother and baby had no immediate medical needs. Becky told our caseworker that she was looking for a job so she could save money to move to Arizona to live with her father. But she admitted that she had not even discussed her plan with him.
With Becky's permission, the outreach worker contacted Becky's father. He was surprised to hear that he had a granddaughter and ashamed that he hadn’t kept better contact with his daughter after the divorce. He and his new wife talked it over and invited Becky to come and stay with them if she would agree to finish high school.
Upon confirming the environment was safe and stable, the outreach worker purchased a bus ticket to Arizona. During a follow up phone call, Becky and her father were excited to tell us that Becky is back in school completing her high school diploma and is also involved in local meetings and services for young mothers. The young father is making small child support payments. Becky is upbeat about her future, even looking into the nearby community college to pursue a horticulture certificate so she can work in her dad’s business.
In the end, it didn’t take a lot of time or money to help Becky and Dana find a home. It just took a caseworker who cared enough to ask the right questions and chase down the right answers.
(Note: Please understand that our client’s stories are deeply personal. The names and photos have been changed to protect their identity.)
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