Client Stories

Natalie Jimenez

A Chance At A Normal Life

As a young girl, Natalie Jimenez traveled to Seattle to stay with her aunt and uncle one summer. Having grown up in a small town in northern California, Natalie was awed by the fast-paced way of life and the hustle and bustle of the city. She rode the bus one afternoon and was overwhelmed by the incredible diversity of people who rode alongside her. She yearned for opportunity that small town-life could not give her, and saw the Navy as a route to personal growth. Things went well – until she became pregnant.  After completing her first commitment with the Navy, she decided not to reenlist given the risk of deployment. She wanted to be able to raise her son. She left the Navy, and moved to Arkansas. She obtained a job in human resources and began working around the clock. However, she felt lonely in Arkansas. Her family was far away and could not support her emotionally or financially, and she felt the need for a positive change. The only place she knew to go was Issaquah, where she could stay with a cousin whom she loved and trusted.

Finding work was her focus, but she soon became pregnant with her second child. She couldn’t hide her pregnancy; employment was illusive. “I wasn’t moving anywhere; I wanted to do something with my life.” At her wits end, she shifted gears and turned towards advancing her education. It was only a matter of time before the crowded conditions of her cousin’s apartment became untenable for everyone. That’s when she turned to Hopelink.  Hopelink helped Natalie move out of an unstable situation and into a stable life for herself and her two children. Natalie’s case manager helped move her family into transitional housing, helped her prepare for interviews, and find a job. “I don’t know what I would have done without them. I don’t know where I’d be.” In only a matter of months, she was hired at Swedish Hospital. With a stable income and the support of her case manager, she continued to push forward secure permanent housing. This would give her children a chance at a normal life – the ability to engage in organized sports, participate in after school activities, and develop neighborhood friendships. Hopelink helped Natalie transform her hopes and dreams into realities.

Natalie isn’t stopping here. Having achieved so much, she continues to set goals and pursue dreams. She has high hopes – she wants to graduate from college, become a surgeon, put her kids through college, and live the life she and her family deserve.