2016 is off to a busy start for our families at Vogel. Parents are searching for jobs, often to replace the seasonal ones lost at the close of the Christmas holidays. In addition, they are struggling to balance the demands of work with the challenges of raising young children, especially during cold and flu season. Time off to care for a sick child is at best a loss of hourly wage income; at worst, it is a loss of the job itself.

Our employment specialist meets with a group of parents once a month.  The group’s focus is “Keeping Calm and Moving Forward,” and the goal is to provide a safe space to vent about the challenges of trying to be a reliable employee while also meeting the considerable needs of young children.

Parents offer to support to each other, brainstorm solutions and receive validation that their struggles are real, hard to solve and common to many. They see that their hard work does not go unnoticed. Under Don’s guidance, parents gain the courage to persevere in their daily struggles.

It is worth noting that one of the most significant differences between the stably housed and the homeless is the lack of a social support network. “Keeping Calm and Moving Forward” is one way Vogel strives to fill that gap.