On a warm summer morning, Kierra walked into her own apartment, this time not just as a tenant but as someone who had found her footing and reclaimed her future. The keys in her hand weren’t just to the front door; they were to a life she had fought to build, piece by piece, with grit and hope.
A native Austinite, she grew up with three siblings and a mother who held their family together with quiet strength. From a young age, she stepped into a caregiver role for her siblings, filling the space their father left behind. He was rarely present and passed away when she was 13. The grief came like a sudden downpour, forcing her to take on more responsibilities than the average adolescent.
By the time she was in high school, Kierra worked at Walmart and then H-E-B, trying to help her mother keep things afloat. But tensions at home grew, as the pressure and weight of knowing her siblings leaned on her most became increasingly apparent.
After graduation, she enrolled at Prairie View A&M University, hoping college would offer a fresh start. But a car accident left her without transportation, resulting in the loss of her job at H-E-B. Without a way to get to work or keep up with the costs of living, she made the difficult decision to leave school after just one year. She moved back in with her mother, but the house no longer felt like home. Eventually, she tried moving out again, searching for something more solid to stand on.
Saving every dollar she could, she bought another car. At first, it gave her a sense of freedom, but shortly due to more misfortune, it became her only home. That summer, she parked in garages or beneath trees, chasing shade like it was gold. The car broke down often, but she stayed in it anyway, holding onto what little safety it offered. She worked short-term gigs and pushed through exhaustion.
Even while living out of her car, she pursued a better future and attended the College of Healthcare Professions.
She stayed with a close friend when she could, but never wanted to overstay her welcome. She describes that time as trying to stand up without ever learning how. Just as she secured a seasonal job at the airport, she received a call from Caritas of Austin to become a client.
She still remembers the timing as a lifeline. “If I had stayed in that car any longer, I don’t know what would’ve happened. I was at my breaking point.”
With support from her case manager, she was able to find an apartment near her job and access to reliable bus routes. When she lost her airport job, Caritas helped her secure work as a patient care technician at a local hospital. They provided scrubs, shoes, furniture, food access, and essential documents she hadn’t had in years.
Now that she has stable housing and a secure job, Kierra is focused on her dream of becoming a labor and delivery nurse. She’s back in the workforce, saving money, and recently purchased a car on her own. After working closely with her case manager and rebuilding her life, she has successfully exited her program.
She no longer requires the support of Caritas of Austin to maintain her well-being. She’s standing on her own now, not just surviving but thriving. Her story is one of resilience and a reflection of what’s possible when our community comes together to build a more vibrant Austin for everyone.
