Tamesha Buford shows up to her job on time, every day, with a smile and a good morning for everyone. She’s up for a promotion at work, while also finishing a degree and working on her next side project, whether that be writing another book, expanding her catering business, Prissy’s Kitchen, or just working in her food ministry.
Her coworkers at the grocery store deli would never have guessed that last year, she was commuting, often more than an hour one direction, from a different hotel each week.
Tamesha moved back home to Georgia from Virginia in December 2023 with her three kids, ready for a fresh start. She and a friend decided to move in together to save on costs.
“We were excited — new chapter, new leaf,” said Tamesha, “but then she shifted on me and my children. We’re in this house, and it’s becoming not a good environment together. She started being late on rent. How did we get here?”
She was able to exit the housing situation safely and without financial or legal consequences, but a few weeks later, she was living with another friend, in yet another tenuous situation.
A person of faith, she remembers praying, “God, you keep sending me on these assignments, but for me and my kids it’s beginning to look a little unstable.”
From room to room
Within two weeks, Tamesha knew she had to move again. On such short notice, this time it was into a hotel.
It quickly became exhausting. Some days, despite paying ahead of time for the week, she would have to check herself and her kids—then ages 14, 9, and 3—out of a room only to check back into the exact same one later that day. They carried suitcases of their clothes and kept the bulk of their belongings in storage. However, for some hotels she tried, even that amount of luggage was deemed “too much,” and they wouldn’t let her stay longer than a night at a time.
Tamesha had savings to move, but finding a place that was ready on short notice was a job in and of itself. Meanwhile, she also continued full-time work and school.
“My funds were being depleted,” she said. “It was costing me more than half of my check each week to stay at a hotel. And then there’s the car and everything too.”
Her kids felt the effects as well, attending four different schools within one calendar year.
“No one knew what was happening…but it was getting heavy,” remembered Tamesha.
When her store manager learned of her situation, he knew that Tamesha more than deserved some stability at last, and recommended she call United Way’s 211.
Space to breathe, at last
211, United Way’s helpline and referral service, triages thousands of calls each year from individuals like Tamesha. Housing is the number one request. In 2024 alone, we made 158,000 referrals to rental assistance and another 19,000+ to shelters or transitional housing.
211 connected Tamesha with multiple partner nonprofits through just one call. United Way of Greater Atlanta’s Motel to Home matched the $1500 she had saved to cover the first month’s rent and part of the next at a nearby apartment. Another nonprofit donated mattresses and furniture. And Tamesha’s manager rallied her workplace, without ever revealing who it was in their department who needed the help, to donate toys so her children could have a Christmas.
Her family moved into a new apartment, with space for everyone, within just a week of calling 211. They love the area, and, importantly, her kids will finally finish a school year without having to further interrupt their learning.
“United Way gave me wiggle room,” Tamesha said. “I now have space to breathe.”
She didn’t realize until after she finally reached financial and housing stability how all-consuming her survival mentality had been. She had forgotten what it felt like to have time to not just provide for her family, but also go out and do things with her kids, just for fun.
“I’m still basking in it and still trying to process everything. I’m usually the giver, but this has strengthened my faith,” said Tamesha. “It’s hard to ask for help, I can acknowledge that. There’s fear of rejection, fear of feeling incapable. But even if you think you’ve got it, call.”
If you or anyone you know is in need of help, our 211 team can connect you with the services you need in our database of 2,700+ resources—visit 211 online, text 898-211, or dial 211. To help us continue answering calls for help from families like Tamesha’s across Greater Atlanta, please consider donating today.