Arms of Hope Update
by Leslie Salinas, Marilyn Flores, and Patrick Lemmons
Ms. Latasha Brown is 49 years young and a proud single mother to two children, ages 17 and 9. Ms. Brown first reached out to us after her employer unexpectedly reduced her hours from full-time to less than 10 hours per week. As the primary caretaker of her children, this sudden loss of income put her in a desperate and overwhelming situation. In addition to caring for her family, Ms. Brown was also enrolled in school through the Harris County Education Department, working hard to obtain her phlebotomy certification — a key step toward building a more stable future for her family.
Ms. Brown first contacted us early one morning, anxious to share her situation. It didn’t take long for her emotions to surface as the stress of her circumstances weighed heavily on her. That same day, Ms. Brown had received an eviction notice and was also scheduled to take a crucial certification exam — a test that could open doors to better employment.During that initial phone call, the Case Manager (CM) took time to listen, offer reassurance, and pray with Ms. Brown. The CM gathered information about her case and encouraged her to focus on taking things one step at a time. Ms. Brown also expressed interest in attending the money management classes offered through Arms of Hope (AOH), but due to her class schedule, she was unable to attend at that time. Despite the challenges she faced, Ms. Brown persevered. She successfully completed the money management classes, passed her phlebotomy certification exam, and—most importantly—was able to avoid eviction.
Ms. Brown was incredibly grateful for the support, compassion, and guidance provided by Arms of Hope during such a critical time in her life. After passing her exam, she came to celebrate her accomplishment with us, sharing her joy and relief.We are honored to have walked alongside Ms. Brown during this difficult season and are thankful for the opportunity to provide her with a sense of peace and support as she navigated multiple challenges with strength and resilience.
