United Way Network Helps Dubuque Mom out of Poverty
After becoming a mom in high school, Nicole Stumpf struggled to raise her daughter on her own. The young mother worked minimum wage jobs and utilized state assistance. Life was tough so she reached out for help.
“Hawkeye Area Community Action Program helped me when I couldn’t pay my bills. Friends of the Family assisted us with other housing issues,” said Nicole.
But her struggles continued. After more than a decade of ups and downs, Nicole found herself and her three children on the verge of homelessness. That’s when she called The United Way 2-1-1 helpline where a support specialist connected her with Community Solutions of Eastern Iowa. Through her caseworker, Nicole learned to set goals, balance a budget and create a better life for her family.
“I needed to put myself into a better position,” said Nicole, “Not just for now, but forever.”
Soon after, Nicole’s children got involved with St. Mark Youth Enrichment and thrived in their summer program. Nicole recently earned her CNA, has a full-time job and is on the path to purchasing her own home.
“I never thought I would get out of poverty. But here I am,” she said.
All these United Way funded programs highlighted in blue were impactful in Nicole’s transformation. This is the power of the United Way. 35 funded partner programs, working together, to ensure everyone has access to the support they need.
When you support United Way, you build a network that helps people, like Nicole, help themselves out of poverty.