*Patricia and Margaret celebrating together.*

“Sometimes life throws you a twist, and you just have to keep trying.”

In early October, hurricanes, earthquakes, and COVID-19 forced Patricia out of her lifelong home in Puerto Rico.

As an insurance salesperson working solely for commissions, Patricia’s income had plummeted in the wake of the catastrophes, as many Puerto Ricans terminated their policies to pay for essentials like food, rent, and health care.

Patricia said the decision to leave her family behind was difficult, but that “they understood it was the right move.” Two weeks later, she walked through the doors of Women’s Lunch Place, alone, homeless, and unemployed.

Quicker than expected, Patricia moved into a three-bedroom apartment with two other formerly homeless women. She began working with a WLP Advocate through our Housing Stabilization program, securing much-needed benefits and documentation.

“We have different schedules, but when we see each other it’s really nice,” Patricia said of her roommates. “Our apartment is right next to the T, which is perfect.”

*Margaret, Workforce Development Specialist*

Once she was settled in, Patricia began commuting to WLP every other day to work with her Advocate on employment. In the Resource Center, she connected with Margaret Decker, Workforce Development Specialist. As a starting point, Margaret asked Patricia to find her ideal job posting and bring it with her to 67 Newbury.

That night, Patricia searched for local openings in the insurance field and found, in her words, “the perfect position.” At their next meeting, Margaret showed Patricia how to align her resume to the posting. This turned out to be a critical piece of advice, as the algorithms that hiring companies use will prioritize candidates whose CVs include exact language from the job requirements.

Ten days and three interviews later, Patricia was hired as a Billing Representative with a starting salary of $48,000, plus benefits.

“In Puerto Rico, I had no salary, so I am very happy,” said Patricia. “Women’s Lunch Place has been so key to this process. Everything has moved much faster than I expected.”

During the interview for this story, Patricia scrolled through a meticulously kept calendar on her phone, pointing out the exact dates on which specific events occurred. When she came to WLP, she was already an organized professional but needed our individually tailored services to give her the confidence and skills required to achieve economic stability.

Many of our guests are not able to move as quickly as Patricia did. For women with debilitating mental health issues or children to take care of, the process can be long and complicated.

However, just as Women’s Lunch Place is prepared to work patiently through these complex cases, we are equally flexible in providing the quick assistance that puts women like Patricia in a position to lift themselves out of homelessness.

Today, Patricia is continuing to work with her advocate to transfer her Puerto Rico driver’s license to Massachusetts and apply for single-occupant housing in the Greater Boston area. She is optimistic about the path ahead and excited to increase her earning potential in the future.

To ensure that any woman who turns to us receives individualized care that is tailored to her past and present situation, donate to Women’s Lunch Place today.

Guest Feature: Patricia Finding Employment through the WLP Resource Center