It was January and Kayla and her children were living in a one room apartment with no heat and no electricity. “I couldn’t cook for my family, which meant no hot meals or hot water. We ate sandwiches and took cold showers. I knew we couldn’t stay there long, and we didn’t have any other options.” 

Even with a job working at a local restaurant, Kayla knew it would be a while before she could afford her own place. And the challenges of finding a place with a seven-year-old eviction on her record and some other legal issues only complicated matters. In the meantime, her manager told her about Nashville Rescue Mission and suggested she check it out.

“If not for Nashville Rescue Mission, my four kids and I would be living in my car. We had nowhere else to go.”

“I had never stayed at a shelter before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect,” said Kayla. “But I had to provide my children with a safe place to sleep, a warm bed, and hot meals to eat. I was desperate.” When Kayla and her children arrived at the Mission, she was paired up with two case managers, one for herself and one for her children. 

“I can’t thank Ms. Holly (Children’s Case Manager) enough for her help with my kids,” shared Kayla. “She went above and beyond helping me get them enrolled in school, making sure they each had a backpack, school supplies, school uniforms, shoes, and transportation. She was absolutely a godsend.” 

“Ms. Lanitra (Mother’s Case Manager) helped me in more ways than I can count. I knew she genuinely cared about me and my kids. She is more than just a case manager, she has become my friend. She listened to me when I needed someone to talk to. But the biggest help of all was her assistance in finding housing for me and my kids. I don’t know what I would have done without her help.” 

Today, Kayla and her children are living in transitional housing. She is saving money so she can eventually rent an apartment. She is extremely grateful for all the help and more importantly the hope she found at Nashville Rescue Mission.