Meet Our Moms: Payal - Mama of 2

Payal puts it best: “We (mothers) are the last people ask for help. If I’m not whole, how can I make sure my entire family is taken care of?”

We met Payal in the midst of a full blown emergency. Her apartment recently caught fire and she and her twin girls had lost everything. 

“After the apartment caught fire and I found out I didn’t have renters insurance, I was suddenly in a place of need. It was an overly stressful situation,” says Payal.

Luckily, through Tender’s partnerships - Payal heard about our rental assistance program. The quick relief allowed her to get into a new spot and have a little bit of extra to buy new household items. 

“The help came very fast and it was very easy to navigate. I've had to apply for a lot of resources and this by far was one of the most straightforward and easy to access. It was like Tender was eager to be helpful,” Payal explains. 

In the United States, 40% of Americans are not equipped to cover a $400 emergency. In a 2018 report, while three-fourths of white families were doing at least okay financially, less than two-thirds of Hispanics and Black families felt the same. For Black mothers, who at 68% are the primary breadwinners for their families - this is especially difficult. 

That’s where Tender comes in. 

Our goal is to make sure our services are simple and shame-free so that parents can focus on what is most important: their children. 

Payal explains, “Some people make you feel burdensome, but Tender didn't. I didn't need to prove my life story to them which I really appreciated. Tender is a place of relief - a peaceful sanctuary. I don't have to have my guard up with them.”

Today, Payal and her two 8-year old twins are safe and in a new home. While they are still recovering from the fire and building back up from scratch, they have what they need and are out of an emergency situation. She tell us, “It was pivotal to be able to move to the next step after the fire. I want to make sure that others know Tender exists. It’s nice to have a community that understands.”

For more information about Tender’s resources, please visit: https://www.thetenderfoundation.com/get-help