02/07/2025
Community Success Story from January 2025
Here at NSBHA, we do far more than issue housing vouchers. Our staff is dedicated to helping our community in many ways. The Community Resource Center (CRC) at 1106 S. Orange Street has the ability to locate and connect with a wealth of resources in Volusia County.
One local woman can testify as to how Ryan at the NSBHA CRC helped her and her family find housing even though NSBHA was not able to house her directly.
Courtney B. had just picked up her young daughter from school and walking home, they saw Santa Claus and many children of the community gathered outside of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. She approached Santa Claus asking about toys for her daughter as her family was experiencing some hard times. Making sure her daughter did not go without a gift for the holidays, Santa Claus invited Courtney and her child inside. Courtney's daughter picked out a toy and they headed back to their hotel.
Santa Claus noticed the pair leaving and rushed out to their vehicle, stopping them in the road. Santa introduced himself to Courtney as Ryan Kirby with NSBHA and invited her to come to the community resource center for assistance.
You see, Courtney and her family had recently been living in a hotel after they were forced to leave their home. Right before the holidays, Courtney was Given a short time to find a new place to live. Unable to find something they could afford, her family moved into a hotel temporarily. Living in a hotel like this is expensive, stressful, and unstable. Determined to make a change for herself and her family, Courtney got to work.
Courtney came to see Ryan at the CRC where he was able to connect her to the Neighborhood Center in Deland. The Neighborhood Center is a nonprofit organization that offers resources to homeless individuals and families. With their help, Courtney is ready to sign the lease for a two-bedroom apartment as soon as it is available!
Courtney is an extremely motivated mother who encourages others in her situation to not give up and to put in the work. She states that she never stopped trying to find housing for her family and that she plans on using the assistance given to her as a steppingstone to do better on her own. She urges others to not become complacent and to continue to put in the effort to move forward independently.
Getting Courtney and her young child out of the hotel and into stable housing is an important and outstanding feat that we at NSBHA are proud to have been a part of. Every family and child deserve to feel safe and to call some place home.
Even when our waitlists are closed and we have no vouchers available, the staff at NSBHA genuinely cares for those in our community and will do our best to direct individuals and families to resources that can make their lives easier, safer, and more fulfilling.
To contact Ryan Kirby at the CRC for assistance, email procurement@newsmyrnahousing.com or come to the CRC on Tuesday or Thursday.