The Coats Family

Ms. Coats is 37 years old. As a single mother, she raised 5 children on her own for nearly twenty years. Struggling to cover rent, food and healthcare was a constant battle, but she found a way to make it work… until July of 2006 when she and her children became homeless for the first time.

Ms. Coats worked as a certified nursing assistant. In early 2006, she lived in a rented house with her children. One month, the water bill was $2500 due to leaking pipes. The landlord held her responsible. She cleaned out her savings to pay the fee and moved her family to a rented trailer in Moncks Corner.
Soon after the move, her car broke down. Without transportation, she lost her job. She searched for an apartment in the city where CARTA could take her to work.

Also in 2006, Ms. Coats became a grandmother. Her young daughter, still in middle school, gave birth to a baby boy named Ladamien. The baby’s father was also underage. Ms. Coats committed to raising the children and enrolled him in daycare when her daughter returned to school. While she was working, Ms. Coats could pay for Ladamien’s daycare. When she lost her job, he could no longer attend.

When Ms. Coats came to Crisis Ministries with her children, she hoped that it would be a short reprieve while she got back on her feet. She worked closely with a case manager at the shelter, who notes that she had no substance abuse or mental health issues but appeared overwhelmed and exhausted. Crisis Ministries provided funds and support to qualify the Coats family for public housing. The waiting list for families was estimated at six months.
Crisis Ministries continued to provide healthcare, social services, a safe place to sleep and a warm meal for the Coats family during this time.

In late December, the Coats family moved to a downtown apartment. Ms. Coats is now employed. Her children attend school and her young grandson attends a licensed day care.
Crisis Ministries served over 1,400 individuals last year. 76 of them were children.