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EarnBenefits Success Story

There is no doubt that Sylvia works hard. With two young children, ages 6 and 8, this single mother does all she can to care for her family as their sole provider. Sylvia works full time as a home health attendant, making $8.25/hour; with her monthly income totaling just $1,386 before taxes, the only things abundant are her worries. At this vulnerable age, her children have no health insurance. Sylvia is often left no choice but to leave them home for long hours while she works, in order to make an income that doesn't always cover costs. Living paycheck-to-paycheck is especially difficult on this single parent, whose main concern is being able to provide healthy meals for her kids, in addition to running a household.

Through EarnBenefits, Safe Space is helping to make "earning a living" into a reality of livable conditions. EarnBenefits connects working families with government and nongovernmental benefits needed to help make ends meet. EarnBenefits, in partnership with Seedco, helps people like Sylvia access income-enhancing benefits with an approach that is specific to each client.

After being screened by her EarnBenefits advisor, Sylvia was deemed eligible for numerous forms of assistance, including food stamps totaling $252/month. She was approved for Medicaid for her children and Family Health Plus insurance for herself, easing the burden of the health worries she was so troubled by before. Additionally, she is eligible for a childcare voucher and is currently on a waiting list to receive this benefit. Sylvia's participation in the EarnBenefits program proved to be valuable - with the introduction of the assistance of food stamps alone, she is able to save $3024/year, in addition to the newly-covered costs of medical care. This makes a significant impact on Sylvia’s quality of life, previously she had less than $346/month after rent and utilities to spend on cost of living such as food, transportation, doctor visits and clothing. Her advisor and the EarnBenefits program will work to ensure that Sylvia continues to receive the assistance she needs, lightening the load of this hard working mother.

Safe Space views EarnBenefits as a stepping stone toward self-sufficiency. We will continue to work with Sylvia in her career development so that she is eventually self-reliant.