Kioana spent a year living in a shelter. She struggled to take care of herself. It was her first time living on her own. And she wasn’t prepared to take on all the personal responsibilities that she needed. So, she moved into an assisted living facility. Here, she got help with managing things like her medication.
Things were well at the assisted living facility. But Kioana craved independence. She wanted to be able to take care of herself. And she wanted to know that she could do it. She still had connections with people at the shelter she used to stay at. So, she asked for advice on how to get started with something that felt so overwhelming. The more she asked, the more information she got. She learned about Goodwill’s services and decided to start her journey there.
So, she visited Goodwill’s Workforce & Family Services to see what kind of support they could offer. A specialist from the Foundational Community Supports (FCS) program met with Kioana. The specialist discovered Kioana’s desire to live more independently. Then, the specialist created a plan that would help her gain more life skills and confidence to support herself.
The FCS specialist helped Kioana overcome barriers such as taking care of legal issues, obtaining legal documentation, and gaining her disability income. And she learned how to manage her bills regularly.
Kioana worked with Goodwill’s FCS program for about a year. She felt confident enough to take on the responsibilities of living on her own. Then, the FCS specialist and Kioana searched for housing options together. Kioana moved into her own apartment in Spring 2023. And she is grateful for the support she got from Goodwill. She feels less stressed about living independently, knowing she has Goodwill to lean on if she ever needs it.