Success Stories of those Helped

Thanks to the generosity of the local community, we are able to provide compassionate and effective help to thousands of local individuals and families in poverty, hardship and crisis each year. Here are just a few of our many success stories. Some names have been changed for privacy reasons at the request of the persons helped.

"Steve" came to NHCO in financial hardship amidst his battle with renal disease. His extensive surgeries and high prescription costs caused him to fall behind on his otherwise timely rent payments. NHCO was able to provide Steve with financial assistance to help him get back on his feet. He plans to return to work soon.

"Emily" is a 20-year-old who became homeless due to the loss of job causing an inability to pay her rent. She had been living in her car for about two weeks when she contacted NHCO. By that time, Emily had secured a different, part-time job, but still had nowhere to live and not enough money to get into an apartment. We were able to use our innovative, new partnership with La Roche College to house Emily in a dorm suite while permanent housing was being pursued. Emily stayed at La Roche for one month while all the details were worked out and she was able to move into her own apartment. NHCO helped her with food, gift cards for gasoline to get to work, second-hand furniture for her apartment and a Salvation Army voucher to purchase a bed. She is now working full-time and pursuing her goal of becoming a pediatric nurse by enrolling in college, something she never envisioned for herself before staying on campus.

"John and Ellen" walked in during an August 2010 food pantry. They were hungry and looking for shelter. They had been living in their car for the last couple of weeks. Their car was not safe to drive let alone live in and John had health issues; living in the car was very unhealthy for him. We were able to feed them from the pantry. We made numerous calls to other agencies looking for shelter and other help. We put them up in a local hotel for a week. We were able to get them health care, new Social Security cards, a food stamp card and arrangements to enter a long-term shelter which eventually lead to permanent housing.

"Maria" - a Ross Township homeowner - enrolled in NHCO's Family Savings Accounts with an asset goal of home repair which the family could not afford otherwise. Sadly, her husband died shortly thereafter, making her financial situation worse, as she adjusted to life as a single mother to her son. To help Maria with budgeting, we matched her with one of our volunteer coaches. He helped Maria track her expenses and find ways to save, such as changing her car insurance to the same carrier as her homeowner's insurance. Maria met her savings goal and had her new energy efficient furnace installed in time to receive a weatherization rebate; her heating costs are now manageable.

Beau was a former Family Savings Accounts participant who dropped out of the program due to the fact that he had to face the challenge of remaining clean and sober from drugs and alcohol. After a few years went by, he contacted NHCO again requesting to re-enter the program. He was now in a renewal center, working with a case manager, and able to enroll in FSA a second time.

Once released from the renewal center and on his own, we knew there would be temptations and hardship for him. We wanted to match him with an attentive savings coach and asked “John” to work with him. Beau was born to be a salesman, and he quickly found employment with a home remodeling company. John meets with Beau weekly, teaching him life skills of money management including budgeting and taking him grocery shopping at Aldi’s to teach him how to be a smart consumer. They attended PNC’s Foundations of Money Management together and John assisted Beau in opening a checking account. Now he’s advising Beau about obtaining a secured credit card so that he may improve his credit score. We’re proud of the progress Beau is making and he is grateful to NHCO for connecting him up with John and acknowledges that “John and the FSA program have been a blessing to him.”

Beau now demonstrates a closer relationship with his Higher Power and he is excelling in sales beyond his anticipated monthly income. He is working the 12-step program and his sponsor helps him live one day at a time. But his passion is skydiving and some day he wants to teach people how to skydive. John assisted Beau with opening and maintaining a second savings account to support his hobby. However, an even greater accomplishment is that he is celebrating his 2-year anniversary of staying clean and sober.

Stephanie was referred to North Hills Community Outreach by Columbia Gas for help with a shut-off notice. A 20-year-old mother of a toddler with physical disabilities, Stephanie came to us distraught and overwhelmed. Her son’s father had just abandoned them, and she had no idea of how to put her life back together.

NHCO takes a holistic approach to helping those in need. In addition to signing Stephanie up for Columbia Gas’ Customer Assistance Program, we provided many other services in a compassionate and effective manner:

• Enrolled her in our comprehensive case management program, designed to help people achieve economic self-sufficiency over time*
• Guided her through the court system, which resulted in monthly child support payments
• Encouraged her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse
• Awarded her an NHCO college scholarship funded by local contributors
• Gave her a donated computer for schoolwork

Stephanie graduated from UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing and earned her LPN degree. If that weren’t impressive enough, she also purchased a new car AND a new home in West View!

When asked about the difference NHCO has made in her life, Stephanie says, “North Hills Community Outreach has helped my son and me in so many ways. The food pantry, college scholarship, a computer, holiday help…I would really like to thank all of NHCO’s volunteers and staff who have helped me to succeed.”

Kristin is a divorced mother of two young daughters who came to North Hills Community Outreach struggling financially and seeking help with housing and utilities.

With NHCO’s assistance, Kristin was able to secure an apartment in Etna. We paid her security deposit and helped set up her apartment with funds and furniture donated to NHCO by caring community members. To help Kristin manage her utility bills, we enrolled her in Duquesne Light’s Customer Assistance Program and advocated for her with Equitable Gas.

Next, we enrolled Kristin in our holistic Case Management program*, a long-term approach to helping low-income individuals reach economic self-sufficiency and make a better future. Kristin’s dream is to be a nurse. With NHCO covering the application fee, she applied and was accepted into UPMC Shadyside’s Nursing School. To help defray the cost of books and uniforms, we awarded her $1,950 in NHCO scholarships (with funds from generous businesses, civic groups and individuals). She graduated with her RN degree.

Kristin also graduated from NHCO’s Family Savings Accounts program, with a savings goal of $2,000 to purchase a safe and reliable car. Additionally, Kristin and her daughters have received holiday assistance, brand new backpacks and school supplies, as well as winter coats.

In a thank you letter, Kristin wrote, “I hope you know that your efforts serve to make my journey a bit easier. I don’t know how I would have gotten this far without the help of North Hills Community Outreach.”

Wesley lives in Bellevue, works full-time as a kitchen manager for a nonprofit organization, and is a single father of six-year-old Margaret. He came to NHCO looking for help and guidance after his fiancée and daughter’s mother suddenly passed away.

We enrolled Wesley in our case management program*, a long-term and holistic approach to helping low-income people become economically and personally self-sufficient.

Budgeting is crucial to self-sufficiency, and we immediately went to work with Wesley to implement a budget, which he has been able to maintain. To further assist him, we enrolled him in the Columbia Gas Customer Assistance Program, applied for and received a $500 grant from $1 Energy, applied for LIHEAP, and provided rental assistance so he could secure a more suitable apartment for himself and his daughter.

We provided Wesley and Margaret with Thanksgiving dinner as well as utility and grocery credits through Sharing Holiday Warmth, and we also worked with a local dentist to get him affordable and much needed dental care.

More help was available for Margaret: we referred them to The Caring Place for grief counseling, collaborated with Pine Richland Middle School to ensure that she had Christmas gifts, and gave her a new backpack with school supplies.

Wesley continues to make great progress. Using a tax refund along with some savings he had set aside, Wesley purchased a safe and reliable vehicle. He even volunteers one day a week at a local food bank.

“Thank you for all you have done, for working with me as a single father who was in need of help with his little girl. So touched am I by all the caring I have received from you. My daughter is happy and growing up learning life the right way.”— Wesley

*NHCO's Case Management self-sufficiency program is funded in part by the PA Department of Community and Economic Development.