HOUSTON, Texas – For many Houstonians, financial stability feels like a moving target.
Melanie Roldan says she knows that feeling well.
“I was in my senior year of college, and I felt like what I was doing in school, I didn’t feel like I was on a track, and it also felt like I was very unstable financially,” Roldan said.
Roldan worked as a teacher’s assistant and says she wanted more for her future. Not just a new job, but a new direction.
“I know that there’s more out there, but having the tools to figure that out, sometimes having to do that alone is not easy,” she said. “Having people around you, bouncing ideas off each other, can help.”
That search for guidance led her to a free program through United Way of Greater Houston called the Integrated Client Journey.
WHAT IS THE INTEGRATED CLIENT JOURNEY
The Integrated Client Journey is a long-term support program designed to help people build stability through goal setting, financial coaching, and career planning.
Jessica Davison, Assistant Vice President of Mission and Strategy at United Way of Greater Houston, says the program is built around each person’s goals.
“Everyone has unique goals, unique things they’re trying to accomplish for their lives, for their families,” Davison said. “What Melanie did was she worked with a navigator.”
A navigator is not a case manager. Davison says the role is more personal and long-term.
“So a navigator is the personal guide for someone,” Davison said. “They’re going to sit down with you and really talk about what your needs are, but also what your goals are and what you’re hoping to achieve, not only today, tomorrow, but a month from now, three months from now, a year from now.”
NAVIGATORS, NOT CHECKLISTS
Instead of handing people a list of resources, navigators help break large goals into steps. Those steps might include budgeting, savings plans, job training, or credit management.
“So maybe it’s financial education, career coaching, whatever that might look like,” Davison said. “That way, you can have some lasting stability based on what that means for you.”
For Roldan, the focus became financial stability.
“Being able to not worry about living paycheck to paycheck, being able to budget, and just being stable,” she said.
She says she learned to budget and to save intentionally.
“I started budgeting, and then I also started to pay myself first, putting money aside for my savings account, and that has made my savings account grow,” Roldan said.
WORKING TOWARD HOMEOWNERSHIP
Those changes helped Roldan set a goal no one in her family has reached before.
Buying a home.
“Once I do buy a home and get to that point, it would feel great because, since I’m the first person to go through this process, it’s not easy,” she said.
Davison says Melanie’s story reflects why the program exists.
“It is this hope and self-motivation she has that is just inspiring,” Davison said. “To continue to strive to have this goal of owning a home.”
Roldan says the journey has changed how she sees herself.
“I feel like I’m better now than I was before,” she said. “I feel like I’ve grown.”
HOW HOUSTONIANS CAN GET HELP
United Way of Greater Houston says the Integrated Client Journey is open to anyone who wants help building long-term stability.
There are two main ways to get started.
Option one is working directly with a navigator. People can visit smallwindsbigmoves.org and enter their basic information, including ZIP code and language preference. United Way says this helps connect people with a navigator in their area.
Option two is the self-service model. This option allows people to set goals, track progress, and find resources online on their own schedule.
For immediate needs such as housing, food, or healthcare resources, United Way encourages people to call 2-1-1. The hotline operates 24 hours a day and connects callers with local services.
WHO THE PROGRAM IS FOR
Davison says the program is designed for people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin.
It is for people trying to move out of debt. For people wanting career growth.For families working toward stability.For anyone who wants a plan instead of guessing.
“This is customized,” Davison said. “It’s unique to you, your needs, and what you’re wanting to accomplish.”
A MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE WHO FEEL STUCK
Roldan says the biggest lesson she learned is not to try to do everything alone.
“There are a lot of resources out there,” she said. “You just have to push yourself to seek help.”
United Way says no two journeys look the same, but progress often starts with one decision.
To ask for help.