08/27/2026
Tia’s Story: Taking Steps Toward Independence
Tia is a mother of two young boys, just 1 and 2 years old. She grew up in poverty and has faced challenges from an early age. As a child, her mother recognized that Tia had learning disabilities and applied for disability benefits on her behalf. When Tia turned 18, her mother helped her reapply for Social Security benefits as an adult and became the payee responsible for managing those benefits.
Over the years, Tia has tried to work to provide additional income for herself and her children. However, she has often been discouraged from working because of concerns that earning additional income could reduce her Social Security benefits. Despite those challenges, Tia has continued to express a strong desire to become more independent and take greater control of her future.
Tia has a talent for doing hair and dreams of obtaining her cosmetology license. She has attempted the written exam several times but has struggled to pass it. Still, she hasn't given up on that goal. She also wants to become her own Social Security payee and learn to manage her own finances, something that has been difficult while her mother continues to serve as her payee.
A few months ago, Tia took an important step in the right direction: she opened her very own bank account. While that may seem like a small milestone to some, for Tia, it represented something much bigger - ownership, responsibility, and a step toward the independence she has been working so hard to achieve.
Tia had been in a relationship with the father of her children and was working while he cared for their boys. When he was incarcerated, everything changed. Tia was suddenly responsible for the household expenses while also caring for two very young children. Without dependable childcare, she could not work enough hours to keep up with the bills. She applied for ELC assistance but remained on the waitlist.
Eventually, Tia and her children lost their housing. Her mother and siblings already had crowded households and were unable to take Tia and her boys in. With nowhere else to go, Tia and her two small children found themselves staying in an abandoned truck.
That is where their story began to change. Our Outreach Team connected with Tia and her children, and when a shelter opportunity became available, they were able to move out of the truck and into a safe environment. Tia remained in our shelter while working toward stability, and eventually she and her boys were able to move into subsidized housing.
Today, Tia continues to work toward greater independence. She is exploring the process of becoming her own payee or, at minimum, transitioning that responsibility to her sister. She wants to return to work, continue building her financial independence, and create a more stable future for her children.
Tia’s story is a reminder that progress does not always happen in giant leaps. Sometimes it looks like opening your first bank account. Sometimes it is asking for help. Sometimes it is continuing to pursue a goal after failing a test more than once. And sometimes it is simply refusing to give up when life has given you every reason to.
From sleeping in an abandoned truck with two babies to having a place to call home and taking steps toward managing her own future, Tia is moving forward - one step, one decision, and one accomplishment at a time.
