Blog

Irene's Story

Irene, a 40-year old single mother, came to Lifeline’s Neighborhood Networks program in May 2021 to get connected with resources that could improve her health care outcomes. Irene has a 14-year old son and a 9-year old daughter. In 2016, she suffered a work-related rotator cuff injury that continues to limit her physical activity. Her current job—a full-time manufacturing position— requires significant use of her arms and for her to stand for long periods, which increases her risk of further injury. Irene was also recently hospitalized with COVID-19, which has left her struggling to recover physically and financially.
 
Neighborhood Networks was able to provide Irene and her children with financial assistance, food, furniture, and referrals to other community resources to help them recover from the setback caused by her hospitalization. Irene has also received support through individual and family counseling, housing resources, and financial workshops. Irene says, “The best part of working with Lifeline is and has always been the support I received from them every time I am in need and all those informational workshops! I even improved my credit score following advice from the workshops I have attended.”
 
One of Irene’s main goals is to obtain her GED in the hopes of improving her ability to find a higher paying job that is better suited to her physical needs. She is enrolled in adult school but is having a hard time completing her school assignments because she doesn’t own a computer. She has been using the computer resources at the adult school during the hours it is available, while juggling her work and family schedules. As a result, she isn’t always able to complete her assignments. Through this WGSD funding, Lifeline was able to purchase a brand new laptop for Irene, ensuring that she always has the flexibility she needs to complete her classwork.
 
Neighborhood Networks has helped Irene to prioritize her health and to work towards goals that will increase her family’s self-sufficiency. She attends all of her medical appointments and follows through on referrals to supportive services for her family. She continues to focus on completing her GED and finding a career that will support her health requirements and her family’s financial needs.