Stories from the Fill The Gap project in association with Interfaith of the Woodlands
[ March | April | July | August | September | October ]
[Note: All names are pseudonyms (names flagged with an asterisk (“*”).]
March 2023 Report
A 63-year-old woman with no children became homeless after having a stroke. She had been living with one of her daughters and then her daughter decided she could no longer live with her. Client came to Interfaith for shelter assistance and was told about the deposit assistance program. Client was able to secure an apartment through Section 8 housing but could not afford the deposit. Client was assisted with a $289 deposit and was very thankful to be able to get into a new place to call home after living in her car for the last few months.
A single 78-year-old male was a referral from another agency and needed assistance due to lack of funds. He had recently relocated and would lose his apartment if he was not able to come up with the deposit for $512.00. We provided him with $512 deposit assistance.
A 45-year-old female was referred to Interfaith by a counselor at The Woodlands High School. Both she and her son have significant speech and learning disabilities, and she shared that they have been bullied, abused and mistreated all their lives. The client had been married 18 years and divorced last year. As a result, she and her son became homeless. She was able to secure a job as a sacker at HEB, working tirelessly, walking to and from work, 7 days a week. The client saved enough money to live at a local motel near the HEB where she worked. She eventually saved enough money for an apartment but did not have enough for deposits. Interfaith was able to help her with $500 for her rent deposit and $150 for her electric deposit. Laura was overwhelmed with all the kindness she received at Interfaith and said that people always look “through” her and we “saw her”. Laura says that she has been taking one class a semester to pursue her Associate Degree, and she hopes that when she finally gets her car they will be able to volunteer at Interfaith.
A 34-year-old single mother of one child (boy age 11) called Interfaith seeking rental deposit assistance due to the spouse abandoning the family. She expressed that their family’s income had been cut in half and she alone could no longer afford the price of their apartment and risk the possibility of eviction. She also stated she could no longer call the apartment a home due to what had transpired there. Through the Fill the Gap program, Interfaith was able to provide rental deposit assistance in the amount of $900.00. She was very grateful for the help for her to establish a new home and give her hope and security for her and her son’s future.
The client is a Hispanic male 24 years of age, who has a wife and a 3-year-old daughter. He came in with another client who had an appointment with Interfaith and expressed that he really needed any help he could get. He stated that he was really looking forward to moving his family out of his brother’s house and starting to live as just a family of three. He stated that his mother had recently passed away and they had to pay out of pocket for the funeral expenses and he had to delay his move. We provided deposit assistance of $590 and he will now be able to move into a new place. He was very thankful for the assistance.
The client is a 22-year-old white female who lives with her 25-year-old male partner and her 3 children ages 4, 2, and 3 weeks old. They had been homeless for some time but a family member helped them with a hotel recently. They were able to find an apartment, but were struggling to come up with the deposit. Through Fill the Gap, we assisted them with $450 rent deposit. They were really excited for their new apartment and very grateful for the deposit assistance.
April 2023 Report
The client is a 32-year-old married Hispanic male who has 2 children ages 2 and 15 days old. The client and his family had to find a new place to live because they had outgrown their one-bedroom apartment and are now a family of 4. With the wife unable to work due to just giving birth, they were very grateful for the help with the deposit for the home they found for their growing family. The rent deposit amount given was $900.
A white female client age 36, with 3 children ages 11, 14, and 16, indicated that she has been part of an abusive relationship for years and has now been able to walk away from that relationship. She stated that with the help of neighbors and friends, she has been able to find employment. The client stated that for the past few weeks she has been living with friends. The client was assisted with rental deposit of $450. She expressed that she was grateful for the assistance provided by Interfaith and the Fill the Gap program.
July 2023 Report
The client is a 69-year-old white female who is living on social security and recently had to move to a new apartment. With her limited funds, paying her first month’s electric bill with the deposit was enough to hurt her finances significantly. We were able to help with the total deposit amount of $150. Client expressed the peace she felt leaving and how grateful she was for our help.
The client is a 23-year-old female with a 16-month-old daughter. She is a single mom trying to start over with her young daughter. She is moving from a small town a few hours away to Conroe to be closer to her mom and just got hired at a job in Conroe. We were able to help her with $300 to pay her rent deposit. Client was very grateful at this assistance as she is trying her best to take care of herself and her daughter.
The client is a 35-year-old African American female with 3 children ages, 11, 15, and 17. She had been homeless but was able to take the steps it took to become a part of the Supported Housing Program through Tri-County. They are assisting her with her rent while she gets back on her feet, and we were able to help her with $849 for her rent deposit. Client was extremely grateful and hopeful for the future, as she starts her new job this coming week.
The client is a 28-year-old black male who arrived to Interfaith for rental deposit assistance and stated that he is currently searching for employment. Due to his wife being pregnant, the family has been searching for a larger more affordable home. The client indicated that he found what the family needed in the Conroe area, but due to his employment status and the end of his current lease, the deposit assistance was greatly needed. We provided $500 in rent deposit assistance. The client stated how thankful he was for the assistance.
The client is a 43 year-old white single female with no children or dependents. She expressed her need for electric deposit assistance due to being on a fixed budget that she receives from her disability due to her auto injury. Interfaith was able to provide electric deposit assistance in the amount of $400.00. She
stated that with receiving this assistance it would make her monthly bills more affordable on a monthly basis with her energy provider. The client was extremely grateful for the help that was provided.
The client is a 62-year-old Hispanic female. She found herself looking for a new apartment because the one she was currently living in was getting too expensive. She was able to get on section 8 housing and was able to find a new apartment to move into. She needed help with the deposit of her new place to offset the moving cost and having to pay out of pocket to terminate her current contract. The client was grateful for the deposit assistance of $646.00 that gave her some relief during this transition.
The client is a Hispanic 30-year-old male who recently migrated to the United States with his wife and 3 children ages 2, 10 and 13. They were staying with his brother and his family in a one-bedroom apartment. Because of the cramped living situation, they did everything possible to save money to find something of their own. They were finally able to save enough money to move into a trailer home but needed help with the deposit. They were assisted with $600 for the deposit. They were thankful to be able to receive the assistance that allows their family to live in a place of their own to call home.
The client is a 28 year old Black, female 28, with children ages: 10, 9, 6, 4, 0. She called Interfaith for deposit assistance due to having to relocate. She disclosed that in January the family suffered a car accident with an 18-wheeler, in which her mother passed and one of her children was severely injured.
Due to having multiple medical and funeral expenses the family has been left in a difficult financial struggle. The client was assisted with $900 towards her deposit and was also given resources and was informed of the various ways Interfaith can assist in other areas. She expressed gratitude and stated that her family is excited to move into a new home.
August 2023 Report
The client is a 32-year-old single mother of a 7-year-old boy. She was living at the Women’s Shelter after fleeing from a domestic abuse situation. She has been able to keep her current job since 2021 and is now approved for transitional housing through the Montgomery County Women’s Shelter. We were able to help her with $400 for the deposit, as well as food pantry and school supplies for her son. She was extremely grateful and left with high spirits.
The client is a 39-year-old single mother of 2 children, ages 10 and 1. She is at a point in her life where she is starting over after her divorce and several health issues that have depleted her finances. After getting evicted from her home, she was able to move into a better home for her and her children. Interfaith was able to assist her with the $155 water deposit fee and the $140 deposit fee, as well as groceries, a clothing voucher to our Hand Me Up Shop for her children, and school supplies for her 10-year-old. The client left with hope for her new life.
The client is a 60-year-old white single mother of a 17-year-old. She was requesting assistance with her electric deposit due to experiencing financial challenges when she left an abusive relationship with her minor child and lived in a shelter for several months. After living in the shelter, she was able to move in with a family member for a couple of months, but she experienced a different type of abuse at this home, leading her to search for a home of her own. Due to several expenses of moving, she did not have sufficient funds for the electric deposit. The client was assisted with $300 of electric deposit, $500 of mortgage assistance, a gas card, groceries for the family, and was given resources.
The client is a 32-year-old black single mother of 2, ages 18 and 10. She expressed her need for deposit assistance as her funds are limited. Interfaith was able to pay $900 to assist with her deposit, as well as providing her with a gas card and groceries.
The client is a 21-year-old black female who is currently fleeing an abusive relationship. She was staying at the woman’s shelter with her two small children ages 1 and 2. She wanted a more comfortable and stable environment for her and her children and was able to find an apartment to move into but desperately needed the funds for a deposit. The shelter gave her our information about deposit assistance and she called us and came in with her children to receive the deposit assistance. The client also received diapers and snacks to take back to the shelter with her.
September 2023 Report
The client is a 40-year old white male who recently lost his job and is going through a divorce. He has struggled to find employment due to his criminal background. He came to Interfaith seeking water deposit assistance due to a lack of funds. Through Fill the Gap, Interfaith provided deposit assistance in the amount of $300.00. He was extremely grateful for the assistance provided.
The client is a 38-year-old black single mother of 4 children (one with special needs) who experienced a recent job loss. As a result of her loss of income she was forced to move to a different apartment. The client shared that she has struggled to find employment and has incurred out of pocket medical expenses. She was assisted with $550 of electric deposit assistance and was very grateful.
The client is a 20-year-old single black female who recently moved into her first apartment on her own. She was beginning a paid internship and needed assistance with a deposit of $170 for electricity. She was very appreciative of receiving the assistance and was excited to start her new job in her own apartment.
The client is 29-year-old black single mother of 3 children under the age of 5. She had become homeless after welcoming her third child and experiencing pregnancy complications. Since becoming homeless she has been staying with friends. The client stated that she will be returning to work within the next couple of weeks and has been able to find a home for her family. We were able to assist her with $750 towards her rental deposit. She expressed she was very thankful for the assistance.
The client is a 64-year-old female who is living on a fixed income who came to Interfaith seeking electric deposit assistance. She stated that she was not able to pay her electric bill. The deposit was included in the bill and she was worried that the electricity service may be disconnected. We were able to provide deposit assistance in the amount of $160.00. The client was grateful for the help and said she was given piece of mind by not having to worry about her service being cut off.
The client is a black single female in her 60’s who had recently become homeless. She was living in a hotel, paying for her daily stay while looking for permanent housing. She wanted to stay in the area and was able to secure an apartment. We were able to assist her with $500 for her security deposit. The client was very grateful for the assistance as it helped ease her move into permanent housing.
The client is a white male in his early 60’s who lives alone on a fixed income. He came to Interfaith very worried because he didn’t know how he was going to be able to pay his bills because he was on a fixed income and his deposited amount to his account was less than previous months. He had recently moved into a new apartment and while looking at his utility bill, it was discovered that he still hadn’t paid the deposit. Staff explained that we could help with the electricity deposit of $150 with the funding from Peace and Justice. He expressed that he was very thankful and that this helped relieve his stress about paying his bills in the future.
The client is a 35-year-old black female who lives alone. She came to Interfaith seeking rental deposit as she was moving out of her current apartment complex due to not feeling safe there. She was provided with rental deposit assistance in the amount of $659.00. The client was moved to tears when she received the assistance, knowing that she was moving into a new place where she will feel safe.
October 2023 Report
The client is a 44-year-old, white disabled woman raising 4 children ages 7,10,10 and 17 on a limited income. Through Fill the Gap, we helped her with $900 for the security deposit. Without this assistance, she and her family would not have been able to move into the new house they needed. The client shared her gratitude for the assistance.
The client is a 61-year-old single white male who recently moved to Texas from Louisiana seeking work. Unfortunately, he was let go from his job and became homeless. We were able to help him rent a house by paying the $700 security deposit. Client is extremely grateful for the assistance
The client is a 28-year-old white single mother to a 3-year-old boy. They had to flee from their home after it became unsafe. The client was able to find a house to move into with her sister and nephew, but the security deposit was $3600. We were able to help with the $900 they had left to pay towards it so they could move in. The client stated she would not have had this opportunity without this assistance and that she is incredibly thankful for the Fill the Gap funds.
The client is a 50-year-old black woman and her husband has multiple sclerosis. They moved here from Arizona after sudden death of their daughter in an accident. Since their arrival they have been living in their van. They were lacking the funds to move in to their new apartment and to turn on their electricity. With the Fill the Gap funds, we were able to pay $199 for their security deposit and $130 for their electric deposit. They are very grateful for the help and said this assistance has been a bright spot in the midst of a very hard time.
The client is a 78-year-old black female. She has lived in the Woodlands for several years but recently was forced to relocate to a more affordable apartment. Being on a fixed income, she did not have the funds to pay her deposit. We were able to help her with her $150 deposit with Fill the Gap funds. The client was very grateful for the help!
The client is a 61-year-old married black female. She is supporting her daughter with mental health issues and her 4 grand children, ages 1, 7, 10, and 16. Due to her limited income, she did not have the funds for a deposit on their new home. With Fill the Gap funds, we were able to help with $900 for her deposit. The client was extremely grateful for the help.
The client is a 72-year-old Hispanic married Male. He shared that he had lost his son last year and has struggled since then. The client lost his employment and was homeless for several months. He had recently secured part-time employment and had found a rental home to meet his needs; however, was lacking the ability to pay for the required deposit. We were able to provide rental deposit assistance in the amount of $267 with the Fill the Gap funds. The client shared his gratitude