DES Services Help Single Mom in Need - Just in Time for the Holidays

When someone becomes a parent, they often are filled with an overwhelming desire to give their child everything they possibly can. However, many parents struggle on a daily basis just to provide basic needs for their children. This was the case for former Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) client, Vanessa Nairn, who called those days of struggle, “the toughest 5 months of her life.”

In the beginning of 2017, the single mother of a 2-and-a-half-year-old was in survival mode, trying to provide for her daughter, herself and her mother without stable employment. Nairn and her daughter had just relocated from Phoenix to Cottonwood to live with her mother. She was optimistic that they would settle in nicely, but quickly learned that the Cottonwood job market was a less-than-flourishing labor force than she had expected.

“The only decent jobs I could find were 45 minutes away in Prescott,” explained Nairn.  “The pay they offered wouldn’t make the commute worth it.”

Nairn spent a brief time working at a fast food restaurant, then left for what was promised to her to be a more profitable, full-time job. The new gig proved not to be what it was advertised. Nairn was only given about nine hours a week on average.

“I wasn’t bringing in any income,” said Nairn.  “I was actually losing money!”

Defeated and unable to support herself and her daughter, Nairn sought assistance from DES. She received temporary cash, food, and child care assistance so that her daughter was cared for while she pursued full-time work.

The assistance provided Nairn and her family the support needed to take care of their basic needs during a difficult time.

“I don’t like asking people for help,” she explained, “but I was so dependent on your [DES] help, just to survive.”

The cash and food assistance benefits came just in time to help Nairn and her family when they needed it most.

“DES helped me so much. We were actually able to get enough food for me, my mom and my daughter,” she explained.

Child care assistance was also approved quickly enough to prevent her daughter from having to change child care centers or be removed from child care completely.

Nairn continued her fight to provide a better life for herself and her little girl. She and her daughter returned to Phoenix after she accepted a great job with a promising future. She proudly explained that since she was able to achieve self-sufficiency, she no longer needed assistance from DES. Now with a lot of hard work and gainful, full-time employment, she is living comfortably with her daughter. The weight of surviving is off her shoulders and she looks forward to enjoying the holidays with her family.

If you are in need of Nutrition Assistance, Cash Assistance, or Medical Assistance, please visit our Family Assistance Administration webpage. For help with child care, please visit our child care webpage.