Before CATCH

 

A wrongful eviction on Skyler’s rental record made finding housing as a young adult nearly impossible, despite her strong work ethic and determination. After exhausting temporary solutions like couch-surfing, she eventually found herself living in her car. During this incredibly challenging time, Skyler discovered she was pregnant with her son, Jaxtyn. The stress of homelessness became even more overwhelming as she prepared for motherhood.

 

“I just remember spending my days just sobbing, wishing I could just crawl in bed and just be sad for a few hours, but I couldn’t relax,” Skyler recalls. “There’s no relaxing because you always have to figure out where you’re going next and what you’re doing and how long you can stay here.”

 

During CATCH

 

Everything changed when Skyler discovered CATCH through an online support forum. She was paired with Jesse, a supportive case manager who went above and beyond to advocate on her behalf with landlords. CATCH’s intervention made all the difference: “My issue wasn’t that I was incapable of paying rent and maintaining a house. I just couldn’t get in there in the first place,” Skyler explains.

 

With CATCH’s support, Skyler finally secured an apartment where she could raise her newborn son. Despite facing additional challenges, including the loss of her partner, Skyler found the strength to keep moving forward with CATCH’s consistent support and guidance.

 

After CATCH

 

Four years later, Skyler’s life has transformed dramatically. Despite managing a serious physical injury, she has maintained stable housing and employment while pursuing her educational goals. After earning her CPC certification in medical coding, she’s now working toward her bachelor’s degree in accounting with her sights set on becoming a CPA. As Office Administrator at California Closets—a job she genuinely enjoys—she’s found the balance between career growth, providing for her family, and spending quality time with her son.

 

Jaxtyn is now a spirited preschooler who recently finished his first season of T-ball and is excitedly signed up for flag football. “I’m devastated that he’s getting older,” Skyler laughs, knowing she’ll likely be “crying in the parking lot” when preschool starts.

 

Her journey challenges common misconceptions about homelessness. “Sometimes just one bad thing happens after another and it’s out of your control,” she reflects. “The majority of us are living within paycheck to paycheck range… It could be anybody that you know.”

 

While still working toward greater financial stability, Skyler’s priorities are clear: being present for Jaxtyn’s milestones, supporting his growing interests, and building toward that CPA certification—creating a future filled with possibilities for her family.

 

Her gratitude for CATCH and its supporters runs deep: “The supporters of CATCH are so amazing and they have no idea the impact that they’ve made on my life and so many others. It was seriously a 180. I’m in a much different place than I would be if I hadn’t had that stepping stone to get myself in the right direction.”

 

 

Skyler in the News:

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