July 14, 2022

The following was shared anonymously by an IILA client.

I am a woman, aged 28 years old, with a 2-year-old son. I am a single mother.

About a year ago, I found myself dealing with homelessness, so I reached out for help from DPSS (County of Los Angeles Department of Social Services). I ended up participating in CalWORKs, through them I got into GAIN (Greater Avenues for Independence) and from there I learned about the TSE Program (Transitional Subsidized Employment). I liked that the TSE Program offered to support me with job placement opportunities, that it consisted of paid work experience and that they would assist me with childcare.   I remember receiving a call from an employee with GAIN and they wanted me to meet Erika Lopez, who is with the International Institute of Los Angeles (IILA). After our meeting, I applied for a position with Matching Grant (a program in IILA) and I was brought on. I have been there for over four months now.

In my experience, the process was very seamless. I was delightfully surprised at how fast everything was and how supported I felt through every step.

The TSE Program has improved the quality of my life tremendously. A year ago, I was a single and unemployed mother struggling to provide for my baby. It was one of the toughest times of my life. Now, I have a great job with a wonderful company. I have a steady paycheck and I don’t have to depend on people to survive. I most look forward to one day being able to provide everything for my son 100%, without help.