Chad Crouch’s one-bedroom apartment in East Ridge is modest and only has a few pieces of furniture scattered throughout, but the 37-year-old is happy to call it the first place he’s ever lived on his own.
Having spent most of his adult life in prison for various offenses, Crouch was most recently released last spring after serving a year for violating his probation. Determined to start a better life for himself, he said it has been difficult learning how to live independently again.
“I was going through an emotional breakdown, and all of my bills hit me at once,” he said. “I just had to reach out.”
Todd Bragg from the United Way of Greater Chattanooga connected Crouch with Family Promise of Greater Chattanooga so he could receive help from the Chattanooga Times Free Press Neediest Cases fund, which provided him with more than $1,000 in rental assistance to get a fresh start.
The annual fund provides the opportunity for readers to support their neediest neighbors through financial donations during the holiday season. Clients at local agencies can receive one-time assistance for a wide array of reasons. Residents can get help with utility bills, unexpected car repairs or rent, as in Crouch’s case.