When we have to say no

September 28, 2026

Dear friends,

One of the hardest realities of working with people in crisis is when you have to say no. Especially when people are kind, and understanding, and polite, even in the face of harsh realities like losing their homes because they can't afford rent or not being able to take that job because there aren’t child care spots available for them. It’s even an emotional hit when we have to put people on the waiting list for counseling or a class, because they are telling us they’re ready for change, but we don’t have the resources to support them.

What do we do? We provide referrals to other organizations so they can get the help they need, but the reality is that there is more need than help. And hearing "no" when you are in crisis is infinitely worse than the experience of saying no.

There are times I talk with our Welcome Center team and they tell me about phone calls or people who have walked in with small children. Tears come to their eyes as they relate their sense of helplessness. They ask me, “What else can I tell them?” I say, “You did all you could.”

I’ve been doing this work for decades and it doesn’t get easier. I rack my brain to think of what else can be done. Our strategic response has been to grow, especially in the areas of work that move people out of financial crisis and into stability. We look for opportunities and we take them, knowing that our model is flexible and can be applied across an array of circumstances when single mothers and their children are involved. We’re also using data to assess areas of growth that make the biggest difference for the long-term. The more targeted we are, the further our resources stretch to meet more of the need, helping more families become so stable that they no longer need social services. That is the holy grail.

Your support makes it possible to say yes to many more mothers and children today than ever before in our long history as a beacon of hope in Tarrant County. Our Riverside Campus has increased our capacity by the promised 30% in the first year and our workforce pilot programming is growing, adding new partners and new career tracks for single mothers so they can better support their families. Our vision is that one day all families will thrive, and we will have all the resources we need to get them there.

In deepest gratitude for how often you say yes, so we can say yes.

Carol