For Tiffany Latimer, being able to prepare a healthy meal and having a place to call home, that doesn’t include a NO VACANCY sign out front, has been a blessing. Tiffany, a single mom of 5, works as a CNA at a local assisted living community, but when her hours were cut, her tough financial situation became even tougher.
Her car broke down and there is no money in the budget to repair it, so she’s relying on friends and family for rides to and from work. She is grateful for vouchers, thrift stores and the generosity of friends.
Life is not easy and Tiffany admits she is fighting to keep her head above water.
Mounting stress can take its toll on parents AND kids, so when Tiffany learned about the UWLS Pathways program, through the Sumter County School District, she knew it could open a new chapter for her family.
Thanks to our Pathways partner, The Salvation Arm of Lake and Sumter, she was able to get into an affordable apartment.
The next item on her to-do list is getting better with her money. VyStar Credit Union, another Pathways partner, will help Tiffany, (and all Pathways families), with basic budgeting tools to ensure money is going to the right places, at the right time.
Longer term, this 38-year-old is ready to put her education to work. She has her diploma in medical billing and coding but she’s hoping another Pathways partner, CareerSource of Central Florida, can help get her take the next step.
“I just haven’t had it in the budget to sit for the state test and get my certification. I believe it’s $300 or $400 dollars and I just haven’t been able to pull that off”, said Tiffany.
Tiffany Latimer says God has been good to her, and she plans to make the most of every opportunity she gets to improve life for her and her kids.
We could not have stated the goal of the Pathways program any better.