When Tara came to the YWCA’s Career Development Center at the Park Lake Homes in White Center, she had exhausted her available resources. And then some.

Her phone was disconnected, her welfare grant was about to end and she and her five children were facing eviction from their home. She wanted to work, but had no clothes appropriate for a job interview. 

Through the Career Development Center, Tara found new housing and accessed the resources she need to see her through the crisis, such as the local food bank and energy assistance. She received interview appropriate clothing through the YWCA’s Dress for Success®, her children received school supplies through School Days and her entire family benefited from the holiday Adopt-A-Family program. With job search assistance and help writing a resume, Tara got a part time job with the King County Housing Authority.

A year later, the Housing Authority promoted Tara into a full-time position. Today, she is working full time, still lives in the home she found with the YWCA’s assistance and is able to support herself and her family without government assistance.