Daybreak of Elmhurst has helped about 60 families find housing, employment, and necessary life skills while on the brink of homelessness, and Saturday, Oct. 24 the all-volunteer organization will celebrate its 20th anniversary.
According to Daybreak co-chairman Larry Cada, Daybreak is a two-year program for local families, most of whom are single mothers who have trouble making ends meet. During the two years, Daybreak, with aid from Bridge Communities of Elmhurst, sets the client’s family up at an apartment free of charge while saving money from a new job the client obtains with job advice from a Daybreak mentor.
Mentors also teach clients basic life skills such as balancing a budget or properly managing credit, and they introduce clients to continuing education courses.
“What we do is provide a safe environment for families, some come from domestic violence situations or living on the street,” Cada said. “Our aim is their transition from dependency and homelessness to self-sufficiency.”
Cada said that the annual cost per client, which Daybreak collects entirely from private donations, is about $10,000.
One of Daybreak’s clients is Nicky, a single mom with children ages 5 and 8 who was left without work when she separated from her husband in the summer of 2007.
Through Daybreak’s help, Nicky, who asked that her last name not be revealed, and her two children were given an apartment, while Nicky got a job in customer service and renewed her cosmetology license.
Nicky took a computer course to improve her working skills and took continuing education classes in math and other “things that (she) lost along the way.”
Set to “graduate” from Daybreak next June, Nicky is confident she will be self-sufficient.
“This just gives my kids and I a new beginning, I’m just so blessed that they provided for me,” she said. “There’s just so much help here for me to take advantage of just overwhelming things they provide for me to start getting ahead.”
Nicky said Daybreak is paying her rent and utilities so she can save the money she would put toward rent.
Cada said Daybreak prides itself on their clients.
“The actual hard work of making that change in their lives is the work of the clients, and we try to make sure they know that ... they can be proud of themselves,” he said.
Daybreak’s 20th anniversary is from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 537 S. York Road. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Nicky is going to celebrate all that she’s been given by the organization toward her future success.
“From the first day (I joined) I thought they were like my family, they were so supportive,” she said. “It was their support that made me strong and ahead where I am today.”
Although Daybreak partners with Catholic Charities, the group is nondenominational and open to all in need regardless of religious affiliation.
