 Raised in suburban Northern Virginia, Josh had enjoyed a fairly comfortable childhood until his freshman year of high school when his father suddenly passed away and mother lost her job due to depression.
He and his mother eked by on their modest savings for months and sold most of their belongings. Winter arrived and Josh's mom paid for rent, but she could not afford their utility bill and Josh and his mother were evicted as a result.
For an entire year following their eviction, Josh and his mom slept on friends' couches, at seedy motels and hypothermia shelters. Amid the multiple upheavals, many of Josh's official documents had been lost, including his birth certificate and social security card.
Josh wanted a job to earn income but was unable to work because he was missing his documents and did not know how to replace them.
Then, Josh learned about our Springfield Family Resource Center from his teacher. At the Center, our staff assisted Josh with lengthy paperwork and phone calls until they were able to help Josh replace all of his lost documents. Next, our staff helped Josh create a resume and practice interviewing techniques. Josh soon landed a part time job at a local deli where he works weekends. He says that he is grateful for the help he got at the Center because his job allows him to be more independent and helps support his family.
The best part? He has saved enough to get his mom a special gift for the holidays. | 
