Bridges to Housing Stability is seeking immediate assistance of $782 to pay off a client's previous debt so that she may re-enroll in school to achieve her Business Administration degree. Her long term housing stability is dependent on her obtaining her degree.

She is a 28 year old single mother with a 2 year old daughter. Due to several hospitalizations with pancreatitis, she had to drop out of school. She had received student loans for the semester and was unable to return the money that had been paid out to her to live on. This also led to her homelessness. Through her work with Bridges, she is now in her own housing with her name on the lease. Her finances are very tight, as she is paying more than 50% of her income for her housing; therefore, there is no room for anything extra. Bridges is currently paying a small monthly subsidy to her landlord for her rent. When this runs out, she will no longer be able to afford her housing, so it is essential that she increase her income.

Howard Community College has allowed her to register for the winter and spring semesters, but they have given her a March deadline to have her transcript submitted. She has plans to complete her degree by the end of 2012. Once she does this, her current employer has said that she will be promoted at work to a managerial position and she will receive an immediate raise. Unfortunately, until her $782 balance is paid off, her previous college will not release her transcript, which prevents her from achieving her degree. There is no room in her budget to pay this off, therefore we are requesting this assistance for her.