Linda Brown is a mother of three ages, 15, 12, and 4 years old, from Tappahannock, VA. When her youngest daughter, Danasia, was 4 months old she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and had to have a feeding tube put in. Linda has been working as a full time Certified Nurses Assistance (CNA) for the past 7 years but after watching her daughter struggle with her disease she was inspired to go back to school to become a Register Nurse (RN) to provide better care for her daughter and other kids like her while continuing to work full time.
In January 2015, Linda made the tough decision to move to Williamsburg, VA to seek better care and support for Danasia as she prepared to start Pre-kindergarten in September. The two older kids stayed behind to live with their Dad so they didn’t have to change schools and leave their friends. Linda and her daughter called a local motel home while she searched for permanent housing. After months of searching, Linda had no success finding affordable housing that would work with her credit issues. To make matters worse, Linda was notified that Danasia’s disability assistance was going to be cut off. In June 2015, Linda was on her way to work and began talking to a lady on the bus about her struggles. The lady was a current client of Home for Good Program and gave her the United Way of Greater Williamsburg number to call.
Linda called and spoke to Victor, Housing Specialist, and started the process for permanent housing through the Home for Good Program and also added food through the monthly Food Distribution Program. Attorney and Assistance Director of United Way of Greater Williamsburg, Liz Parman, has assisted with an appeal for Danasia’s disability assistance and will continue working with her throughout the process.
When asked what they were looking forward to the most about being in a house and out of the motel, Ms. Brown replied, “Cooking and not eating microwavable meals anymore since there is no stove or oven in the motel room.” She is also looking forward to her daughter having the care she needs when she starts Bright Beginnings in the fall, graduating with her RN degree in May 2016, and getting her credit restored so she can buy a car.