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Amanda Butterfield Reporting For the first time in her life, a single mom who was once homeless, will spend this Christmas in a home of her own. Not only does she get a home, but she will have all the essentials to fill it.
First shopping needs to be done. Brenna Dimauro, a single mom of a little girl, needs furniture.
She gets her pick at Desert Industries.
Brenna Dimauro, looking at furniture: "So then what, I go through here and pick out chairs?"
This is all possible through the Road Home, Utah's largest homeless shelter.
Brenna has been on a waiting list for permanent housing for almost a year. And just in time for Christmas, she's getting her own home.
Brenna Dimauro: "Oh, I'm so excited."
Matt Minkevitch, Executive Director, The Road Home: "We know the longterm solution to homelessness is to help people maintain permanent housing."
For any client of the Road Home who gets into housing, they also get a shopping spree for the essentials, compliments of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Brenna Dimauro: "I like that one. A kitchen table and two chairs, because it's me and my daughter."
Brenna and her daughter are going to look at their new home for the first time.
Brenna Dimauro, as she and her baby step inside their new home: "Kay, lookey baby. Let's go look, let's go look. Look mommy's got her own kitchen."
Brenna became homeless a little under a year ago.
Brenna Dimauro: "Me and the ex broke-up, he was moving out of the apartment which we were staying in together."
She had no job, and no where to go, so she checked into the Road Home. And now she plans on going back to school. She has a job and has a home.
Brenna Dimauro, looking at her home: "Huh, this is our place!" Brenna then kisses her baby.
Brenna Dimauro will move in tomorrow. To keep the apartment, she must be a good tenant, pay rent on time, and meet with a case manager regularly.
