Hope Center At Pullen Helps Alex Come Home
This story is part of a series showcasing how funds from United Way’s 2021 Band Together partnership are supporting United Way’s nonprofit partners. This is a story about Hope Center at Pullen:
Alex opened the door to his new apartment for the first time on Valentine’s Day 2022. One week earlier, Alex and his Transition Specialist from Hope Center at Pullen, Kevin, were out to a birthday lunch. It was the first time Alex remembers being taken out to lunch for his birthday – and he is in his 20s. His birthday lunch was a bright spot in an otherwise anxious time.
At that point, Alex had been living in a hotel for nearly two months waiting for final approval to move into a new apartment. Alex’s voucher application was approved in December 2021. He picked out a place to live. He was ready to move in and just needed to wait on the mandatory inspection of his new apartment. Due to forces outside his control, the wait lasted almost 2 months. He continued to work at a local restaurant and care for his baby girl on the weekends. With the help of funds provided to Hope Center thanks to United Way’s Band Together partnership, they were able to support him with groceries and placed him in a hotel while he waited for final approval.
Three days after his birthday lunch, Alex got the best birthday present: final move in approval! Four days after that, the Transition Specialist team was helping Alex move into his new apartment. Hope Center’s supporters made sure he had a Welcome Home Basket to stock his cleaning closest and pantry. A lot changed in a week. He’s now living in a place of his own that is down the road from Wake Tech where he wants to take classes, closer to more job opportunities, and a safe place to co-parent his baby girl. He’ll continue to have the support of Kevin and the rest of the Transition Team over the next two years while he looks at enrolling in college and focuses on raising his daughter.
Hope Center at Pullen has been cheering Alex on, proving support and opportunities, since he was a young teenager. They look forward to continuing to support him as he reaches towards his goals.
