Chante Ross, one of the first residents of the LIFT (Lives In Forward Transition) program, exemplifies resilience and determination as she balances part-time work, education, and motherhood. The LIFT program supports single parents who are employed part-time and enrolled in higher education or job training.
Before finding stability at Avenue J, Chante and her 9-year-old son, Treshen, faced housing instability, high transportation costs, food insecurity, and childcare difficulties. These challenges forced Chante to choose between employment and education.
The LIFT program offered Chante and Treshen a lifeline, allowing her to focus on her family, career, and studies. She notes that her son’s questions have shifted from “Where are we sleeping tonight?” to “When are we going to the park?”
Chante is pursuing a degree in general business at the University of Houston Downtown, aiming to develop her own clothing line and retail store. She is immensely grateful to Eugene Bernard, the Director of Student Life at UHD, and Felicia Young, her program coordinator, whose involvement was instrumental in her enrollment in the LIFT program.
“The LIFT program gave me hope,” Chante shares, highlighting her perseverance and gratitude for the connections and opportunities that came her way. She reflects on how the program provided a stable home and a supportive community. This stability empowered her to focus on her goals, create a brighter future for her son, and pursue her dreams with renewed confidence.
