By Edmond, United Way SparkPoint client
I moved to the U.S. from the Philippines last year to be with my family. I live with my mother because I can’t afford a place on my own. I only get paid $8.50 an hour working in a residential hotel that mostly houses former addicts and people with a criminal record. It’s not a happy place, and residents get mugged every day.
It’s humbling. I really want to move out of my mother’s house. Grown men are supposed to be able to support themselves and not have to depend on relatives.
But my life is changing because of United Way’s SparkPoint. It’s a one-stop-shop, and I’m really getting the help I need. I’m working with a coach who hooked me up with financial aid to take computer classes. She helped me apply for credit cards so I could establish credit. And I learned how to be mature around money, budget, and save.
I am a simple man – I want a better job, my own place, a family, and a golden retriever. I have a long way to go, but with SparkPoint, I feel like I am well on my way to achieving my American Dream.
