Dante's Story: A Father's Determination and a Fresh Start

Dante’s life changed drastically when he received the devastating news that the mother of his three children had passed away. He immediately left his home in Florida and moved to Maine to gain full custody of his 3 young kids. For a while, they found temporary refuge with their mother’s family, but it wasn’t a permanent solution.

As a single father caring for three children with trauma, Dante struggled to keep a job. Without reliable childcare or support, barriers kept piling up. Delays in assistance programs and high security deposit costs left them living in their car in a Walmart parking lot—until the car broke down. At his breaking point, Dante called a crisis line and was referred to Tedford Housing.

Dante recalls his first conversation with Kami, Tedford’s case manager. “She told me to hang in there for just a couple more weeks,” he says. “She said she would have an apartment ready for us soon. She was a life saver—she’s the reason my kids have a dad. She truly saved my life.”

Dante described his time at Tedford’s family shelter as the first time he’d felt peace in years. “Honestly, it felt like home.” The shelter gave his family a safe place and a community of other families facing similar challenges.

As of 4 months ago, Dante and his kids are thriving in their new three-bedroom apartment in Belfast, Maine. The kids are decorating for the holidays, enrolled in school, and Dante is in counseling, preparing to re-enter the workforce and be the role model he believes his kids deserve.