Courtesy photo Danielle helps her daughter, Sasha, with a lesson during a recent remote-learning class. Danielle says it's Sasha who motivates her to "keep pushing" as the two work together to continue improving their lives with assistance from the Front Door Agency.

NASHUA – The Front Door Agency, which thanks to gifts and donations was able to assist more than 1,140 people in Greater Nashua last year, has launched this year’s annual fundraising campaign already facing a significant increase in demand for its housing services due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The campaign focuses on funds that drive the agency’s core programs, including its Transformational Housing Program for single mothers and their children, as well as the financial assistance it provides to help with housing-related expenses and its rapid “re-housing” program for those experiencing homelessness.

“With many people across New Hampshire unemployed or working reduced hours due to the pandemic, the demand for the agency’s services is growing,” agency officials said in a statement. Financial support, it added, “is needed more than ever.”

For more information regarding pledges, gifts and donations, and about the agency in general, go to www.frontdooragency.org/give.

Featured on the page is the story of Danielle and her daughter Sasha, who not long ago were on the verge of homelessness – but began to turn things around with assistance from Front Door, which placed them in its Transformational Housing Program.

“When I got pregnant and became a single mother in college, my life spiraled into chaos,” Danielle said. “I dropped out, got a full-time job and tried to provide for Sasha on my own. We moved into the least expensive apartment I could find but still struggled to pay rent, utilities, groceries, daycare and my car payment.”

Soon after they went to Front Door, Danielle and Sasha moved into one of the agency’s affordable apartments in Nashua and began their journey toward self-sufficiency. Case managers helped Danielle put supportive services in place and develop a plan to improve her finances and earning potential. Since joining the program, Danielle has earned her associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, and just recently she began taking classes toward a master’s degree.

In the meantime, Sasha entered first grade.

“This is not a place where things get handed to you,” Danielle said. “But if you’re motivated and truly focused on doing better for yourself and your children, you can do it.”

Danielle is not the program’s only success. In fact, 85% of the single mothers in Transformational Housing participated in, or graduated from, an educational program. And 70% gained substantial increases in benefits and income while in the program, including promotions or wage increases.

“These positive outcomes help the families we serve become or remain self-sufficient, even during the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Front Door Agency CEO Maryse Wirbal said.

“But the critical programs and services we provide to Greater Nashua are only possible with support from the community,” she added.

“We hope Danielle’s story inspires individuals, businesses and other organizations to give back in a meaningful way.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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