Morganne was working as a hospital lab technician but had set her sights higher. She aspired to be a licensed practical nurse (LPN), which meant going back to school.

In the fall of 2023, at age 39, she began nursing classes. Her daily routine often looked like this: Work as a lab tech from 8 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Sleep for a few minutes in her car. Drive home. Catch a little more sleep in the car and be at school by 8 a.m. for a full day of classes.

It was too much. Driving to or from school or work, she came dangerously close to falling asleep at the wheel. “My brain said, ‘We are not doing this anymore.’”

At work, she scaled back from full time to coming in on an “as-needed” basis. Then, a month after starting school, she had to reduce her work hours further when her daughter became seriously ill and was in and out of a hospital for several weeks.

The end result: “I couldn’t pay the rent. I was barely making my car payment. And some months, I didn’t make that.” Then her car died.

“I had too many pieces to juggle,” she said. The possibility of eviction weighed on her. “I knew it was coming if something didn’t happen.”

Something did happen. Morganne was referred to United Way’s eviction-prevention program, the Renew Collaborative.

She met with United Way’s Renew Collaborative program associate who explained the process and asked her to complete paperwork.  Project advocates create custom plans for families to stay in their homes and negotiate with property owners to make payments toward back rent.

“I’m grateful for the roof over my head,” Morganne said. She now looks forward to the day when she is financially empowered and can choose a home that works best for her family.

Meanwhile, she continues to work toward her goal of becoming an LPN. “I’ve got two kids who are watching everything I do,” she said. “I want them to see no matter how hard it gets, you keep going.”

When you support programs like the Renew Collaborative, you’re making an investment in your neighbors and your community.

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