When the pandemic brought much of the world to a standstill in spring 2020, many people hunkered down and resigned themselves to Netflix and TikTok.

Not Claire.

Instead of bingeing Tiger King, Claire took advantage of her extra free time to take a first-time homebuyers’ class online. To her, “there was no better time to complete it.”

This type of drive isn’t unusual for Claire. She brings a distinct determination to everything she does, whether pursuing a nursing degree, pushing legislators for increased rental assistance, or advocating for fellow families of color at her daughter’s school.

Claire entered EMPath’s programs in 2011. First a resident of Hastings House, EMPath’s large congregate shelter in Brighton, and now in Career Family Opportunity (CFO), our five-year flagship program, Claire has made tremendous progress on her goals and become an advocate for critical basic needs programs.

With support from her EMPath mentors, Claire moved from Hastings into permanent housing in 2013. In 2017, after overcoming a slew of obstacles thrown in her path, Claire completed her degree at one of the most intensive nursing schools in Massachusetts. In October 2021, she passed her board exams and accomplished her long-time goal of becoming a registered nurse.

In the years since leaving shelter, Claire has also gotten married and “watched my daughter grow academically, spiritually, and athletically.” She has worked with EMPath’s Financial Specialist to budget, build her credit, and pay off much of her debt. With the homebuyers’ class now complete, she hopes to buy a home in the near future.

Claire is a steadfast advocate for herself and those around her. “Anything that matters to you, you need to advocate for it,” she says.

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