Help Lakeisha & her boys build their life back

2 days before Christmas, I met a mom & her 5 boys. First I noticed them standing at a bus stop on Evangeline Thruway as I drove into work, and then oddly 30 minutes later they walked by my shop downtown, looking lost. I stepped out and asked if I could help with anything and the littlest one needed the restroom, so they came in. I could tell that the mom was overwhelmed but also very grounded and a good mom. She said it had been a really rough year but she was remaining positive. She didn’t go into details and I didn’t know it then, but they were/are homeless and without a vehicle, living in a shady motel off Evangeline Thwy.  They’ve been in 4 different motels in the last 4 months, each one worse than the last one.

We exchanged phone numbers that day in case I could help with anything, and over the holidays we kept in touch a bit and I got to know her better. She expressed fears of not having a place to stay with her kids once money ran out- paying for a motel weekly is really expensive, even at a really dingy place.  They have nothing- only donated clothes in garbage bags and a tiny basketball hoop they put out in the parking lot (and take in when done playing). Even in an impossible situation, the mom remains positive and her kids are loved.

In the past week, she’s made some progress- she connected with ARCH, allowing her to stay in the motel for another week, and on Tuesday she received a Section 8 voucher for housing in St Martin. It’s difficult to find housing right now. I’m hoping to help her find a place to get out of that bad motel ASAP.  

She also needs a vehicle since her housing voucher is for outside of Lafayette (no public transit). She has a driver’s license.

Thanks in advance for any help! Together we’ll figure it out.