It wasn’t easy for Kathy to ask for help, but she knew she needed to connect to support to get through the government shutdown. She stopped by the temporary food pantry at TIA and soon found herself at a table talking with a Care Coordinator from the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
Kathy explained she was struggling because she had already been living paycheck to paycheck working for the TSA. She knew people at the airport and in the community were depending on her, but she had to commute an hour each way to get to work. In recent days she had considered calling out of work because she didn’t have the gas money to travel the distance.
The Care Coordinator was able to build trust and connect with Kathy. They were both military veterans and he let Kathy know he had also worked for the TSA at one point in his career. He shared his own previous experience working for the TSA during a shutdown. He validated her concerns and they worked together to build an emotional safety plan for Kathy. They brainstormed some ways Kathy and her husband could cut costs in other areas during the shutdown so she could continue buying gas. Kathy was also able to obtain a gas card through a local donation specific to veterans.
Kathy was encouraged to call 2-1-1 or the Florida Veterans Support Line should any future needs arise. She was very grateful for the help, and that Crisis Center staff were available at the airport to provide assistance during this stressful time.
