The Dream

Laprei, a single mother who has always lived with family, has often dreamed of one day raising her children in a home of her own. This dream, however, has proved a difficult one for the young mother to realize.

This isn't because Laprei has struggled to hold down a job. To the contrary, she is a server at Cracker Barrel and a home-care worker for the elderly. In fact, she is a Certified Nursing Assistant.

But despite her two jobs, Laprei's wage-earning capability is limited by the fact that she never finished high school. What's more, she has very little earnings to put aside after paying monthly rent and living expenses.

The Program

Nevertheless, through Hope for the Inner City’s housing program, Laprei is taking important steps toward realizing her dream of homeownership.

In November 2010, Laprei moved out of her sister's home and into one of Hope for the Inner City's developmental housing residences. She now has a more permanent home for her 6-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son, and a place of solace she can return to at the end of her long workdays. And thanks to Hope for the Inner City's personalized rental agreement, she is also better positioned to establish the savings she has been needing.

“Our goal,” says Vincent Boozer, director of programs, “is to help her become more financially stable by offering her rent that is affordable according to her budget.”

To qualify for the program, says Boozer, participants must be employed or able to receive a Section 8 housing voucher from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. They sign a contract agreeing to follow tenant rules and to design an action plan, consisting of personal career and financial goals, which they follow with assistance from Hope for the Inner City’s staff. The program lasts 24 months. Midway through the term, Hope for the Inner City evaluates the participant's progress and determines their eligibility to continue for the remaining 12 months.

When Laprei is ready, Hope for the Inner City also offers extensive training and financial counseling to those interested in buying a first home.

The Hope

As she settles into her new home, Laprei also looks forward to entering Hope for the Inner City’s adult literacy program in 2011 and earning her GED. She plans to pursue a nursing study track at Chattanooga State Community College and become a registered nurse.

“I like to help people and I like to communicate,” she says. “Ever since I started doing home care, I realized I like caring for people.”

It is this pattern of giving—stretching from Hope to its clients, who in turn give back to their communities—which brings the light of the Gospel to Chattanooga. As Laprei finds financial stability through temporary housing, and competitive education through literacy training, she is empowered to better share her unique, God-given gifts with a broken world that is waiting to be loved, aching to be cared for.