Deserea, is a single mother to a 7-year-old daughter Mckinsey, both experienced homelessness in 2017 through 2018 up until they received housing assistance.
She was working at Fed-Ex but was laid off with no plans to renew the worker’s contract to rehire her. Deserea regained employment working for Claire’s retail store. In April 2023, Deserea heard about Hands through a non-profit organization and applied to the TLC Program. She was approved to have her 2013 Hyundai Elantra vehicle evaluated as the vehicle was making strange noises and needed tires. She was excited to learn the program had its own service garages, and she pays 50% of the repair costs. Deserea completed all the repairs needed on her vehicle and was then invited to the Lift UP program where she can receive maintenance and repair services for up to 3 years.
Unfortunately, Deserea’s vehicle was stolen and later deemed a total loss. She decided to purchase a vehicle at a dealership with warranties on it and was obligated by the warranty to take the vehicle to their facilities. In February 2024 Deserea contacted Hands to give news about the vehicle she purchased and that it had been totaled out from a car accident and could we assist her. She needed to maintain employment and continue to get Mckinsey to school.
Deserea had previously qualified for the Lift UP program where we can assist her with a vehicle. She also qualified for CCU Financing through a third-party partnership with Hands to help her with a vehicle.
On February 22, 2024, Deserea was placed in a 2004 Toyota Corolla.
She is grateful to Hands and says, “Hands has helped me with a vehicle so I can continue to work, drive my child to school and afterschool activities. I have regained my independence and freedom to take my daughter to exciting new places and spend quality time with her.”
Deserea is currently attending school with plans to graduate in 2 to 4 years depending on her career path. Her dream is to have her own non-profit organization where she can help others find jobs so they can feel good about themselves. Mckinsey attends a public prep school and is involved in after school activities. Without the support of Hands, she would have been taking public transportation and had less time to spend with her daughter. She is extremely blessed for finding Hands of The Carpenter.
