"It felt very good when The Bridge Fund loaned us the money to bring my rent up-to-date," said Marianela.  "But it feels even better now that I am paying the money back. I am very proud that we are able to do it."

After her husband lost his job, Marianela, who was working full-time, didn't make enough to meet expenses. The couple has two children, ages 19 and 15, and had always paid their bills on time before this crisis. Marianela said, "We got behind and did not qualify for any help because the agencies said we made too much money."

Marianela said not being able to pay their rent was a terrible experience for her family. "We were always honest people," she said. "We felt very, very bad about being behind but it seemed like there was nowhere we could turn to get help."
Fortunately, someone in a community-based program referred Marianela to The Bridge Fund. "The caseworker at The Bridge Fund was wonderful to me. She talked to me about our problem, did all the confusing paperwork, and took care of everything.”

The Bridge Fund helped the family with their rental arrears, loaning them $739. Since that time, the situation has improved, with Marianela continuing to work full-time as a parent-educator. Her daughter is in college, receiving financial aid and working part-time to contribute to family finances. Marianela's husband, who has heart problems, now works part-time cleaning a church and has applied for a job at a local market.

Marianela said she would always remember the way the staff at The Bridge Fund treated her. "From the beginning, they understood the situation and did everything they could to help us keep our dignity."