Determination Helps Dante Overcome Poverty
No License and Too Far To Walk: How Dante Overcame the Odds to Beat Poverty
Dante made some mistakes in his past but he has always made an effort to do better. He had a history of violent crime and spent 5 years in prison. He went to therapy and tackled his aggression head on. Dante never wants to be involved in violent crime again and made a commitment to his children to never return to prison.
Dante also suffered a battle with drug use but finally got clean. After he got clean though, he turned to alcohol which led to him getting a DWI. Dante could not afford to pay the fines from his DWI and ultimately lost his license. The only way for Dante to get his license back is to pay the fines but without having the funds to do so, Dante was backed into a corner. Dante came to The Salvation Army's Pathway of Hope Program because he was dedicated to doing better, and he truly meant it.
Dante has 6 children and had to find a way to provide for them. Unfortunately, Dante and his children live in a rural area, miles from a town with work. Without a license, Dante was not able to drive to work. Dante did not use that as an excuse. He walked the miles to work every single day.
In 2021, a new law was passed to help decriminalize poverty by allowing people to pay their traffic fines on a payment plan so they do not immediately lose their license. Dante started working before this law was in place and saved the money to pay his fine in full. This was a huge success to get Dante and his family back on their feet.
Dante is now working toward saving for a used car and there is no doubt he will get that soon. "You can really make a change and do better if you want to," said Dante. His optimism and dedication to success is what drives him. He never loses hope.
Pathway of Hope is offered through The Salvation Army and is for people who have hope of better days. No matter how bleak the situation is, our case managers are there to help you hold on to hope and celebrate all the victories. They also have access to ways to help you make progress. If you or someone you know is in a similar situation, have them reach out to their local Salvation Army Community Center.