A REAL Lifeline: Helping a Family Restore Water Service

Jennifer, one of our Project SAF Life Coaches, discovered that one of her clients, 17-year-old girl, had been living without running water since August of last year. Her mother had fallen behind on the bill, and the teen had been doing her best to help care for her younger siblings despite the difficult circumstances.

“She was trying to help her mom and take care of her younger siblings. It broke my heart. No teenager should carry that kind of burden,” Jennifer shared.

Determined to help, Jennifer began reaching out to churches, social service agencies, and local organizations but kept hitting dead ends. Then, during a grocery store run with a friend’s mom, she shared the situation, and that conversation led to an unexpected breakthrough. A connection was made with a local nonprofit that stepped in with life-changing support.

Within days, the family’s water and waste services were fully restored. Even more incredible, their outstanding balance was completely paid off, bringing the account to zero after more than a year without access.

“When I told [the teen], she cried,” Jennifer said. “She’s so grateful. For everything she’s been through, she’s still kind, creative, and hopeful.”

Jennifer’s support didn’t stop there. Like all of our Life Coaches, she’s building trust not just with the teen but with the whole family, offering guidance as the mother begins a new job and connecting them with critical resources. She and her REAL LIFE colleagues are also making sure the teen is ready for back-to-school season with clothes, supplies, and plenty of encouragement.

“I think just showing up consistently has made a difference,” Jennifer said.

We couldn’t agree more. Thank you, Jennifer, for showing what REAL LIFE support truly looks like.