Participation in nonprofit cohort program and additional technology guidance have helped Healing Vine Harbor do more to help women facing homelessness move along their path to self-sufficiency.
Healing Vine Harbor provides emergency financial assistance, independent living skills workshops, mentoring and basic needs to women who are not prepared for independent living because they are homeless, have aged out of the foster care system, or their homes or current housing situation are no longer safe or stable. Their mission is to reduce the number of single women living in shelters or unsafe situations, providing a pathway out of poverty to ensure self-sufficiency.
In 2022, Healing Vine Harbor joined United Way’s Unite Charlotte cohort. Their founder and Executive Director, Tracey Questell, shares her thoughts on participation in Apparo’s Technology Foundations cohort through the Unite Charlotte program and other work with Apparo, including through our Tech Therapy program.
Tracey shares:
“As part of the cohort, I learned about all of the services that Apparo offers and I wasn’t sure what I would need. Then Johnson and Wales donated 14 desktop computers to us, but they all needed Windows upgrades. I has worked with a team before who was supposed to help me install Windows 10, but they ended up failing at that and erasing all of my files. I reached out to Yenting for help and she was an angel. I told her that we were in trouble with these computers and she didn’t hesitate to say that Apparo would find a way to help us. I’m so thankful to Apparo. Todd [Reavis, Technical Lead at Apparo] met with my assistant Ralph Riley. They figured out that these computers could be saved and we could upgrade the Windows software. Todd taught Ralph how to install Windows on the computers.
“Now, we’ve been able to provide these computers to our clients, who are formerly homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Many of them are now in college a Central Piedmont, so they really need these computers. Everyone needs computers because today, you can’t do anything without technology.
“It worked out so successfully. If it wasn’t for Apparo, none of that would have happened. I’m very thankful that because of our relationship, I was able to get the help I needed. What you did made a difference in a lot in the lives of the women that we serve, so thank you. Apparo really saved the day. Now I’m ready to take Healing Vine to the next level.”
