By Krista Greipel

Family is the greatest motivator for change. For many years, Steven had been in and out of prison and had a limited relationship with his two teenage daughters. He wanted to change that and to rebuild his relationship with them. Steven came to Urban Homeworks through The NetWork for Better Futures, which works to reduce the economic and social costs of high-risk adults with histories of incarceration, substance abuse, mental illness, chronic unemployment and homelessness. With social support and stable, quality housing, Steven was able to maintain his motivation for change.

His relationship with his family moved from phone conversations and texting to a face-to-face interaction when his daughters flew to Minnesota with their case worker to see their father for the first time in over six years. A new, more stable family was born.

After a year in Urban Homeworks housing, Steven moved back to his home in Oregon where he gained full custody of his daughters. He texted us an update that he was walking his daughters to school for the first time in their lives. Steven was part of a fabric of relationships and support that helped him make a change and reclaim hope for his family’s future.

Thank you for the part you played in making that change possible.