Candice entered SVdP Detroit’s Journey to Housing program in October 2025 after being pushed out of the Detroit home she had lived in for 12 years. Gang violence had overtaken her neighborhood, and it was no longer safe for Candice and her two children, ages 16 and 13, to stay. She packed her car with the essentials, left everything else behind, and moved into a hotel while her children stayed with her brother in Canton so they could remain in school. Candice started a new job with McDonald’s Management Training Program, determined to find her way back to a home for her family.
Kim, the Journey to Housing Financial Coach, guided Candice through weekly coaching appointments, budgeting, and goal-setting. “Candice was very diligent about following the financial coaching process,” Kim said. “She did everything I asked and was on time with her appointments and assignments.” Candice purchased car insurance, paid off debt, filed bankruptcy, and built an emergency fund. By February, Candice had completed every assigned step and taken on a second job to reach the income she needed for housing. After months of searching for a safe neighborhood that met her family’s needs, she moved into a three-bedroom home in Taylor in June 2026. With support from Journey to Housing, a board member’s donation, and SVdP Detroit, Candice now has everything she needs to make it a home.
She and her children are finally under the same roof. Candice will continue monthly coaching sessions to stay on track, grateful for the financial skills and relationships that carried her family through.
