Transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing is a fragile time for single adult families with many pitfalls that threaten to topple them backwards. That’s why St. Vincent de Paul — Madison created the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program. With your compassion and intensive staff support, these resilient families receive the help they need to persevere through tough times and chart a path to a more stable future for themselves and their children. Social Services Director, Katy Polich, LCSW, shares three ways you’re changing lives through this program.

1. Keeping Families In Their Homes

Housing instability in Dane County has worsened as key rental assistance programs, like Tenant Resource Center’s Eviction Prevention Program, are at risk of closure due to funding shortages. However, your support of the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program is a port in the storm for fragile families. Your care provides rent assistance and case management, helping struggling families stay in their homes during a time when affordable housing in our community is increasingly scarce.

Marisol and her daughter Gianna. The person-to-person help you make possible gives her confidence that she’s not alone and guidance as she overcomes challenges.

2. Tackling Transportation Barriers

After housing, transportation is the second most pressing challenge for families in the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program. Public transportation is often not an option for single parents due to working late-night hours and having to coordinate work, school and childcare hours. While Madison Metro’s new routes have helped several families, they still face challenges getting to daily appointments and errands. Many families don’t make enough money to purchase a reliable vehicle. And others, like Marisol, don’t have a driver’s license.

Marisol tried hard to make sure her high school daughter, Gianna, was able to get to and from soccer practices. But without a car, she relied on costly Uber rides, and her difficulty in obtaining a driver’s license compounded the problem. With Katy’s assistance, she practiced for her written driver’s test—coming very close to passing— and received Uber gift cards and equipment support from a local foundation to help cover transportation and soccer costs. She’s now working to secure her license and get reliable transportation. The personto- person help you make possible gives her confidence that she’s not alone and guidance as she overcomes challenges.

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3. Expanded Referral Network Helps More Families

Last fall, the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program moved into a new space atop the St. Vinny’s Willy Street Thrift Store thanks to generous supporters. The location helps Social Services Director Katy Polich, LCSW deepen local connections, leading to more referrals from school social workers, St. Vincent de Paul conferences, and wordof- mouth from past participants. The program is expanding its resource network and welcoming additional families in need.

Social Services Suite Grand Reopening, October 1st, 2024. Visitors learn about upcoming programming made possible with the new space