Pio Decimo: Supporting those in poverty to thrive

In November 2019, Abigail* experienced domestic violence and suddenly found herself as a single mom. Soon she was unable to afford her rent and kept falling behind. She heard about Pio Decimo Center and applied for their transitional housing program.

Pio Decimo is an organization within Catholic Community Services that helps individuals and families make lasting, positive change in their lives from the youngest to the oldest members of our community.

Abigail and her children were accepted in January 2020, and reported that she felt safe in our apartment community. She immediately applied for SNAP benefits with Pio's onsite service coordinator. Pio Decimo provided the necessary furnishings to make the apartment feel “like home.” Abigail began to attend bi-weekly case management sessions with the goal of preparing for permanent housing. She completed Pio’s financial education classes to review budgeting and understand credit.

With the determination to increase her income, Abigail secured a full-time. The new-found housing environment allowed her to re-focus on mental health as well as higher education. Abigail reported that she “was healing and gaining personal strength.”

Unfortunately, when COVID-19 hit in March 2020, her plans were slightly modified due to community-wide lockdowns. The emphasis was to remain physically healthy and meet basic needs. Pio’s Pantry and basic needs program provided her with ongoing food boxes, hygiene supplies, clothing items, and children’s diapers. Despite the pandemic, Abigail persevered with her schooling, which had moved online, by reserving an office computer at Pio to complete homework assignments. Throughout her stay in Pio’s transitional housing program, Abigail attended case management appointments to evaluate goals and receive resources.

She finished all college pre-requisites and was accepted into Pharmacy school for Spring 2022. In August 2021, Abigail completed the transitional housing program and signed a lease at an apartment complex with rent that is affordable and fits her family’s budget. Abigail would like to thank her case workers, and all of the Pio staff, “Thank you Pio Decimo for the opportunity to move out of poverty and create a new future for my family.”

"Abigail’s story exemplifies how Pio Decimo Center’s multitude of services supported her goals amidst the pandemic," said George Rushing II, Executive Director of Pio Decimo Center. "The COVID-19 Pandemic has created a wide variety of new challenges in our community. Families continue to struggle with safe affordable housing and our housing services are in high demand. The need for food security continues to grow daily, and the toll of the pandemic isolation has greatly affected the youth, families & seniors we serve. I am asking you to partner with us, as a community, to face these challenges as we are still serving the most vulnerable during this COVID-19 pandemic. Every dollar donated to Pio Decimo Center is vital to our work. But your donation is more than a financial transaction. Your support means that you want to make a difference in our community - and that you are placing your trust in us to help you do so."

*Due to domestic violence, client’s name and identifying information were concealed.

http://www.ccs-pio.org/