Bridging The Gap: Brandon and Jessica’s Story
We probably don’t have to remind you, but living in today’s world is a lot more expensive than it usually is. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s 2023 report, a full-time worker would have to earn over $28 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment. Most entry-level jobs aren’t paying that much, so to be able to earn this wage, many people are enrolling into higher education. This doesn’t come without a hefty price, however. As of last year, the average student loan borrower owes around $37k, and that can be around a $300 monthly payment. Then you have the rising costs of necessary items such as food and transportation with inflation superseding stagnant wages. It’s no wonder why more and more young people today are having difficulties making ends meet. Then add a growing family, and it can seem almost impossible.
Dakota Hope Clinic understands the struggle. Our own families are experiencing the same stress: Each day our dollar goes less far, but the need remains the same. If existing alone is expensive, how are young people able to also afford to take care of themselves and their young children? While we wish we could fix the primary issue causing these economic challenges, we try our best to lend a local helping hand to those around us in the meantime. Here’s the story of a couple who was able to receive additional help for their young family through DHC.
Hard Times
Brandon and his partner Jessica moved from Utah to North Dakota in 2023. Back in Utah, family difficulties landed them homeless and living in their car. At that time, Jessica was between 6-7 months pregnant. They tried to find local resources in Utah but were unsuccessful. They then decided to move to North Dakota to live closer to Brandon’s aunt and uncle. Brandon recalls the kindness his aunt and uncle showed him and their small family. “[They] gave us a warm, safe place to sleep and to have our wonderful daughter.” When they finally settled down in North Dakota, Brandon’s aunt reached out to Dakota Hope Clinic to see if we had any additional resources for them. We were more than happy to help.
Just like Brandon and Jessica, many of those seeking help at DHC are North Dakota transplants. A good deal of them are oil field workers, military families, and immigrants. When they come to the area, they don’t have the personal connections that lifelong residents do. It can often be hard to ask for help if you’re just asking a stranger and not your neighbor or someone you are familiar with. That’s why we at DHC want to make all of our clients and patients feel as comfortable as possible, like they’re our own family.
There are a few ways we at Dakota Hope Clinic aim to keep our facility friendly and welcoming. One of them is our refreshment bar. As soon as you walk into the clinic, you are greeted with a table stocked with coffee, tea, and snacks. Stressful times can make it difficult to take care of our own essential needs. We want to make sure that you’ve got the basics covered. And if you get roomed and forget to take a snack, don’t worry, there are snacks in there too!
Secondly, you’ll notice the interior design as soon as you walk in. The wall and flooring colors, the fabric of the seats, and the lighting were all chosen specifically with comfort and safety in mind. And although our clinic does provide medical services, our examination rooms do not feel sterile and icy. We do this because we want you to feel safe and comfortable. And when you feel safe and comfortable, you’ll notice any difficult situation seems less stressful.
Helping Hand
At Dakota Hope Clinic, Brandon and Jessica were able to earn baby clothes, bottles, wipes, diapers, and more necessary items for their baby through the Earn While You Learn program. It’s an online program where parents receive points for watching educational material about parenting and adulthood. These points can be used in DHC’s Baby Boutique. It contains almost all of the items a baby or toddler may need at no charge to their parents. “We couldn’t afford to buy all the stuff that Dakota Hope has helped us with,” Brandon remembered. Not only did they receive necessary baby items, but they could learn vital parenting skills at the same time.
Dakota Hope Clinic does not receive government funding of any kind. Therefore all of the items in our Baby Boutique are either donated themselves or bought through the generous donations from our loyal donors. Our local community is extremely supportive of us, and we are so grateful for them. And as a result of their support, we are able to regularly stock the Baby Boutique with items parents may need.
Even more meaningful to Brandon and Jessica were the relationships the young couple built with DHC staff. “They are truly God’s angels in human form, helping those that are struggling with providing the best care for their young children or their unborn child,” Brandon stated. They specifically wanted to thank Karmen, our administrative assistant, and Mandy, one of our nurses.
We at DHC know that asking for help is not always the easiest thing to do. As a result, we are committed to making it easier for everyone to reach out. We have a text line for people who would rather not call the clinic or are unable to. We have staff you can talk to on our social media as well. We also have a question form called #AskDHC for those who want to remain 100% anonymous. Whatever way you need to reach out, we at Dakota Hope Clinic want to be on the other side waiting for you.
A New Hope
If you or someone you know is in need of help with pregnancy or parenting, Dakota Hope Clinic would be more than happy to help you. We thrive on making the lives of new mothers, families, and babies better in our local community. Brandon summarized his family’s experience at DHC in one sentence: “Dakota Hope is truly doing God’s work by helping others who are pregnant or have a child on the way or have children already.” His experience is why we at DHC do what we do, and we hope we can help you out as well.
