Pearl’s Story

This Fall, Pearl reached out to Upward Transitions to thank her case manager and let her know she and her kids were looking forward to Thanksgiving.

That was not the case just a year ago. Last November, Pearl, a 49-year-old single mother with a 5-year-old and a 7-year-old suffered a stroke.

Unable to work and waiting two months to receive Family Medical Leave Act benefits, Pearl fell behind on her rent. When she reached out to Upward Transitions in February, she had just started receiving $500 weekly in FMLA benefits, but she owed $2,500 for 3 months’ rent and late fees, and March rent was coming due the next week.

Thanks to generous donors like you, Upward Transitions was able to bring Pearl’s rent up to date, and Pearl was able to pay her March rent.

After months of physical therapy, Pearl was able to return to work in April, and she shared that she and her children are doing well and feeling hopeful.

“My case manager was amazing! She went above and beyond helping and was so patient,” Pearl said. “I am forever grateful for the rent assistance. Without it, I would have been evicted.”