Christina’s Case Story

Midnight Feedings and Moving Boxes
Christina* had planned for the sleepless nights of new motherhood—but not for the sleepless nights of an unexpected housing search.
The notice arrived with little warning: her lease wouldn’t be renewed. For Christina and her infant son, this standard landlord decision set in motion a sequence of events that illuminated how quickly stable housing can become precarious, regardless of income or planning.
The timing was particularly challenging. Having recently given birth, she found herself navigating both the demands of new motherhood and the complexities of an unexpected housing search. The immediate solution—moving back in with her own mother with whom she had a strained relationship—provided temporary shelter but cast a shadow over what should have been a joyful period of bonding with her newborn.
“[My baby] is growing so fast,” she reflected, expressing a universal sentiment of new parents, but one made more poignant by circumstances that threatened to overshadow these precious early months.
![A quote from the story. It reads, "[My baby] is growing so fast."](https://afootbridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/image-1024x536.png)
When she located an affordable rental property, it seemed the path to stability was clear. However, the remnants of her forced relocation—an “unfavorable” rental history created by circumstances beyond her control—led the new landlord to require a double security deposit in addition to the first month’s rent.
This case story exemplifies how housing policies often fail to account for temporary setbacks or circumstances outside a tenant’s control. Despite having saved a portion of the necessary funds, the additional security deposit requirement threatened to place stable housing just out of reach.
The implications extended beyond immediate housing concerns. Living with her mother, though necessary, had begun to affect her well-being and, by extension, her ability to be fully present for her infant son. The situation highlighted how housing instability ripples through every aspect of family life, potentially transforming temporary setbacks into long-term challenges.
Rapid Response at a Critical Moment
When the County’s Department of Human Services referred Christina to Footbridge, the situation represented more than just a housing crisis—it was a crucial moment where rapid assistance could prevent a temporary setback from becoming a prolonged struggle.
Footbridge’s timely contribution of $2,200 covered the remaining move-in costs, transforming an unattainable requirement into an achievable goal. “It will definitely remove a lot of mental and financial stress and it will put me in a better financial state for the new year,” she shared, highlighting how housing stability connects directly to mental well-being and financial security.

The Impact
This rapid assistance did more than secure housing—it protected a mother’s ability to focus on her infant during a critical period of development. With stable housing secured, she could redirect her energy from crisis management to the essential work of parenting and planning for their future.
Her story illuminates a critical reality: the path to housing instability often begins with ordinary events rather than extraordinary circumstances. When inflexible housing policies collide with life changes—even positive ones like welcoming a new baby—the impact can quickly cascade beyond a family’s ability to absorb it independently.
This case demonstrates how maintaining housing stability often requires more than individual effort—it needs rapid, flexible support to bridge gaps in existing systems. When timely assistance prevents displacement, it does more than provide shelter—it preserves a family’s right to stability during life’s most significant moments.
*This name has been changed for privacy reasons.