The Moulton family daughters Keyana and Dominique think of their mom Stacy as someone who has shown up for them throughout their life, attending countless afterschool activities, and parent-teacher meetings. Her unwavering support was a constant, even when their family began to face uncertainty.
In 2021, the family fell into a time of financial hardship. What they initially hoped would be a short-term stay in a motel turned into a yearlong challenge.
Families living in motels often work one or two jobs but still struggle to escape the weekly rent cycle to move into a more permanent, stable home. This was certainly true for the Moultons, who were paying more than $500 each week to stay in a motel, while getting up at 5 a.m. each day for their jobs to just barely afford that week’s rent.
“When we’re thinking of the daily grind of living in a motel, you’re thinking of paying for that night, that week, that month,” said Rorie Scurlock, Associate Vice President of Economic Stability at United Way of Greater Atlanta. “Whenever you do that, you don’t have the ability to save, you don’t have the kind of flexibility to be able to get a different job, you have to keep earning to sustain. It’s more about survival than thriving.”
United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Motel to Home program supports working families who can afford rent, but face barriers to settling in a place of their own, whether from credit issues, lack of savings, or their background. We collaborate with community partners to offer families financial coaching, savings matches, and assistance with utilities and security deposits.
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Keyana discovered a flyer for the program on her car in the motel parking lot and felt this could be the support system her family needed to make that leap.
With the support of United Way of Greater Atlanta, the Moultons moved into an apartment of their own. As they continue to live together and the daughters pursue each of their careers, they’ve loved seeing their mom being able to relax, taken care of in a home of their own after sacrificing for them for so long growing up.
“Home means a place of joy, warmth with my daughters,” said Stacy. Now, they are home at last.
With your support, we aim to move 1,000 more families just like the Moultons from extended-stay motels into permanent housing next year. You can help us reach this goal by donating today.