Summer’s Story

Summer is a fiercely loving single mom. When she first came to Path Home, she was fleeing unsafe housing and struggling to navigate the complex web of social services on her own while raising her eight-year-old child.

Every day, Path Home’s Retention team builds relationships with families like Summer’s to navigate the maze of social services that they need to stay housed. This approach works: 87% of families that Path Home works with keep their housing long-term.

When Summer’s son got to the top of a year-long waitlist for a school eleven miles away, she knew she would need a reliable way to get him to school.

Her current vehicle had become a significant financial burden and constantly needed repairs, but Summer was reluctant to give it up in case they suddenly found themselves without a home again and might need to sleep in their car.

With steady support from Path Home’s housing retention specialist, Linnea, Summer took a leap of faith to let her fear and vehicle go.

Path Home provided Summer with her very own e-bike and now, two years later, Summer and Alex continue to enjoy their bike commute to school, work, and appointments.

"My bike has given me a sense of joy. It gives us a sense of community."

Summer is now continuing her education to begin a career in domestic violence advocacy to help families like hers. Linnea, who supported Summer every step of the way, says that Summer has “a lot to offer in her community, because her community has a lot to offer her.”

"When I wake up in the morning, I'm not worried about where we're waking up. We have a life, an actual substantial life."

Stories like Summer’s are why we do this work. Without a home, it’s hard to dream of a better future. Path Home’s proven model and compassionate approach helps parents find the belief in themselves they need to accomplish their goals and help their kids thrive.