From leaving a bad situation across the country to living in a camper to struggling to find work, Michele Hansen has spent the last several years overcoming obstacles to build a better life for herself and her three children.
Prior to living in the Chattanooga area, Hansen lived in Washington where she faced what she described as a toxic situation.
So, in 2021, Hansen and her children, two boys and one girl, left Washington, seeking a place to live where Hansen could work and her children could go to school, she said. Hansen and her children moved to South Carolina, where they lived in a 29-foot camper for about two years, but eventually Hansen lost her job and struggled to find another, she said. Compounded with additional personal trouble, the family's time in the Palmetto State came to an end.
In August, Hansen and her children moved to the Chattanooga area, where Hansen had other family members, she said. Here, Hansen found a job as a behavior technician, work she had been doing in South Carolina after making a career change from dental hygiene. In this role, she works with children with autism, having been inspired by her own experience with her oldest son, who is on the autism spectrum, she said.
While in Tennessee, the family continued to live in their camper, which they brought with them from South Carolina. However, by November, the campground they were staying at was closing for the season, and the camper itself had become a less-than-ideal living arrangement, Hansen said.
Through the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults, a local nonprofit organization supporting members of the community through counseling, crisis intervention and prevention services, Hansen worked with a life coach, who helped connect her to resources, and the organization helped her begin the process of finding permanent housing. While awaiting approval for a permanent home, Hansen and her children moved out of their camper into an extended stay hotel.
Thanks to a $1,500 gift from the Chattanooga Times Free Press Neediest Cases Fund, Hansen was able to afford her family's hotel stay, which lasted about a month, she said. The process of finding a home was overwhelming at first, but with help from the partnership, it moved quickly, she said. Within a few weeks, Hansen and her children were able to move into a permanent home.
(READ MORE: Single mother on the road to stable housing thanks to Neediest Cases Fund)
Even though she said she feels her family is in a safer, more stable place, Hansen still has concerns. Making rent, providing for her children and having reliable transportation to work are all on her mind, she said. Despite her concerns, Hansen said she feels she is making progress in her life.
Hansen is pursuing a master's degree for applied behavioral analysis, she said. She plans on becoming a board-certified behavioral consultant, the next step in her career field.
"I'm hoping to help other children and parents with kids on the spectrum, and hopefully, be able to help them, but also be an advocate for them as well," she said.
In 2024, Hansen said she is looking to grow healthier — mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually — and to make the next year better than the last.
For people in situations like hers, Hansen advised them to reach out to resources in the community and to never give up, because eventually things will get better. To those who contribute to resources like the Times Free Press Neediest Cases Fund, Hansen said they can expect their donations to be used wisely.
"I'm sure there's a lot of women or people in my similar situation, and they need your support; they really do," she said. "Because a lot of times, they're doing it on their own, more often than not."
The Times Free Press Neediest Cases Fund was started in 1914 by Adolph Ochs, then the publisher of The Chattanooga Times. The fund receives donations from Times Free Press readers, and the money is administered and distributed to individuals and families in need by the United Way of Greater Chattanooga and partner agencies.
Recipients must be working or on a fixed income and be able to demonstrate ongoing stability and self-sufficiency after receiving Neediest Cases funds. According to United Way figures, the Neediest Cases Fund took in more than $57,000 last year.
Contact Sam Still at sstill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6579.