Success Stories

Dear Bradley and Associates: 

My name is Stephen. I am writing to thank you for the rental assistance that was provided to me. Your program has really helped me to regain financial stability during my transition out of homelessness. My case manager has been an excellent support during my transition away from homelessness. She is always thoughtful and courteous. My prayer is for God to bless your program while you all continue to help people going through hard times financially. I am most appreciative of the kindness you have shown to me, and I will never forget your kindness. God bless you all!

Sincerely, 

Stephen

Dear Mayor Bowser:

My name is Dr. XX. I thought you would like to hear about a recent success story in rapid re-housing.

The rapid re-housing agency that helped me is Bradley and Associates, which is owned by Ms. Cherryl Bradley.

In 2013, after moving to the Washington, DC metropolitan area, I tried to make the transition from a secretary to an energy therapist, and life and spiritual coach, but I ran out of money. I became homeless for three years.

Both before and after I was evicted, I applied for many jobs, which included secretarial and other types of work, but no one would hire me except commission-based jobs or door-to-door political campaigns. I did not want to do that kind of work for the rest of my life. I did not understand what was going on because I had never had trouble getting a job before.

I finally left the homeless shelter in April 2017. I was previously enrolled in a rapid re-housing program with another agency before Bradley and Associates. I left the program early because I was poorly treated. I was then placed in the home of someone but when I could not find a job; the property owner wanted me out.

It was during this difficult time that one of Ms. Bradley’s case managers contacted me. We set-up a meeting and I told her about my current living situation and my interest in DC Central Kitchen’s Culinary Job Training Program. I did not think they would be able to help me but to my delight, I was assured that that things would work out for me. Ms. Bradley and the case manager wanted to set-up an appointment to inspect my property but she was uncooperative.

A meeting was set-up, which Ms. Bradley initiated. Both Ms. Bradley and a presentative from the Department of Human Services attended this meeting in person with the property owner to come to a meeting of the minds. Ms. Bradley even offered a settlement with the property owner, who said twice that she first had to consult her attorney. I was very touched by what Ms. Bradley tried to do for me, which she certainly did not have to do.

I decided I no longer wanted to live there, so Ms. Bradley found me another place to live and paid my rent for three months while I attended the DCCK Culinary Job Training Program, which is highly respected not only in our nation but also in the world. DCCK has an 80 percent+ placement rate for its graduates. I graduated from the CJT Program on April 6, 2018 and was chosen as the Class Representative having the great honor of speaking at our graduation. I spoke about visionaries Robert Egger, who started DCCK, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his desire for us to create the “Promised Land”.

I got a job offer immediately; in fact, I found out that I had been hired by DCCK on graduation day!

I am now able to pay the rent on my own, which is how the rapid re-housing program is designed to work. I am particularly appreciative of Ms. Bradley because she did everything she told me she would do as if telling me that a bed would be in my new apartment when I arrived and it was. She also brought me pots and pans, plus some beautiful clothing, which I very much needed.

Because of the assistance from Ms. Bradley and my case managers, I was able to rise to the occasion and do what I needed to do to create a more successful and satisfying life.

Thank you, Mayor Bowser, for your hard work in the area of homelessness.

Most respectfully, 

Helen