Brittany & David’s story

Instead of earning their diplomas after attending four years of high school, Brittany and David received certificates of completion. It turned out, both had fallen just a few points short of passing the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT). “We were both under the assumption we had graduated,” Brittany says.

Sadly, without diplomas, the couple couldn’t find work and, when they did, the jobs didn’t pay well. The growing family of five struggled to make ends meet. Then, David lost his job. Brittany and the kids went to live with her grandmother while David crashed with friends and relatives and even spent some nights on the street. “It was a sacrifice I had to make,’ he says. “I had to make sure they were OK.”

The family was reunited when they came to O.U.R. Mission Home in September of 2015. In addition to receiving meals, shelter and other necessities, Brittany and David chose to break the cycle of homelessness – starting by earning their high school diplomas through the Mission‘s Career Learning Center.

Today, David works while attending barber school. Brittany plans to start school in the fall to become a nurse or sonogram technician. Both are grateful for their fresh start.

“The Mission showed me there was a better way to live,” David says. “Before, I was content with the way I was living. The Mission gave me a sense of urgency to get up and do more.”