A few months ago, David Hastedt felt a tugging at his heart he couldn’t ignore. As a mortgage loan officer, David had a successful career and was active in his local church, but felt God wanted him to do more. While searching the Denver Rescue Mission’s Web site for inspiration, he came across the Family and Senior Homeless Initiative (FSHI), and things began to fall into place.
The more David read how FSHI helps displaced families find permanent housing through their work with a mentor team, the more he wanted to get involved. David sought a program where he could develop a personal relationship with those he helped, and says FSHI gives mentors a chance to do just that.
“I just felt like I was being led in the direction of something like this program,” David said. “I liked FSHI because you’re doing a lot more than just writing a check and saying, ‘good luck,’” David says.
A short time after applying to be a mentor, David and four other families involved in a local life group he attends were matched with the Wanna family. As parents of six children, Steven and Michelle Wanna were struggling to make ends meet and looked to the FSHI program when Steven’s employment was no longer capable of supporting their growing family.
“The Wanna’s are very good, very genuine people who just need some help,” David says. “We just try to give them the best advice we can so they can get stabilized.”
From their first meeting nearly five months ago, David and his team coached Steven and Michelle on the far-reaching financial benefits of getting their GEDs. Steven is aiming to complete his GED coursework in the near future, as it will be vital in helping him land a management position at the Walgreens he’s worked at for the past several years.
“I really think a GED would help bandage their wound a bit, so to speak.” David says. “It will allow them to sustain a higher income and set a good example for their kids, which is really important to [Steven and Michelle].”
With each family taking turns mentoring the Wanna’s, Steven and Michelle are also receiving valuable advice on the importance of establishing credit and opening a bank account. David says these two things are an “absolute must,” especially now that the family has received their deposit and first month’s rent from FSHI and are back in stable housing. The team has even taken steps to help Steven get a secured credit card so he can get comfortable with the entire financial process.
“Our goal was to show Steven and Michelle that having somewhere secure to put your money is much safer for them financially, and they’ve been totally on board.”
David and his fellow mentors are also experiencing unexpected benefits from their work with FSHI. All team members agree their involvement with the program has shown them the importance of looking beyond themselves and their busy schedules.
“What you come to realize is that a lot of families in this position live day-to-day, so we all had to make adjustments to our own schedules to help them out. It’s great to not be so involved in your own life that you take the time to help out someone in need,” David says.
David is currently trying to get the church he attends involved with FSHI as well, and says both he and the Wanna’s plan to stay in touch after their partnership with the program ends.
The Family and Senior Homeless Initiative has already placed over 670 needy families in permanent housing. If you would like to make a difference in the lives of a hurting family, please visit the “Become a Mentor” link on our website at www.FSHI.org!
