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When Christopher Hernandez’s car stereo shop experienced a slowdown, he fell behind on rent and was evicted, along with his wife, Becca, and their twin 2-year-olds.
The family moved in with a relative and began contributing to household bills. However, as summer temperatures soared in Southern California, they struggled to pay the electricity bill for air conditioning. In search of help, Hernandez turned to The Salvation Army Cathedral City Dick and Beverly Davis Center.
“I had heard that The Salvation Army could help people in our situation—people behind on bills,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t realize just how far that support would go.”
At the time, the Cathedral City Corps was launching Pathway of Hope, an initiative designed to assist families caught in cycles of homelessness and poverty. The program provides personalized case management focused on achieving long-term stability and self-sufficiency.
After learning about the program, Hernandez applied and became the first Pathway of Hope participant at the Cathedral City Corps.
“I was ready to improve our situation and build a solid foundation for my kids,” he said.
Part of that was facing the past. Hernandez spent years in prison for selling drugs. As he neared 50, he recognized that a combined 25 years of incarceration had prevented him from becoming self-sufficient enough to build a stable future.
“I spent too much time in and out of prison,” he said. “I wanted to turn the page to a fresh start.”
While in prison, Hernandez completed college courses that fueled his passion for learning and personal growth. After his final release and starting a family, he was determined to continue his education but wasn’t sure how to begin.
“The dramatic impact of Pathway of Hope creates a ripple effect to the whole family and the generations to come.”
Major Rubina Navarro, Cathedral City Corps Officer
Sydnie Safoyan, Hernandez’s Pathway of Hope Case Manager, soon took on the role of a life coach, guiding Hernandez in setting and achieving goals.
They met once a week and kept in contact over the phone. Safoyan would often call to check in on the family.
With her support, Hernandez completed paperwork to expunge his record. At the same time, he received guidance on building his credit score to improve the family’s options for permanent housing.
“Christopher has a lot of energy and he’s a very motivated person,” Safoyan said. “He became an ideal candidate for the program because he had many great ideas; he just needed that extra push to make them a reality.”
Safoyan helped Hernandez re-enroll in school and select classes at the College of the Desert in January 2023. He completed his first semester with a 4.0 GPA and made the Honor Roll and Dean’s List.
With experience owning a car stereo business, he started taking auto classes to deepen his knowledge. At the same time, he began to study business law with a dream of becoming a lawyer.
“There’s a lot I want to do,” Hernandez said. “It would be awesome to become a lawyer one day, but for now, I’m focused on school so that I can tell my kids, ‘I did it, and you can, too.’”
Research shows 32 percent of children who experience poverty spend half their early adult lives in poverty. Pathway of Hope specifically supports adults with children, aiming to improve long-term living conditions for future generations.
“Everything we did was designed to set him up for success,” Safoyan said. “Whether it prepares him for a job or permanent housing, Pathway of Hope is about creating that foundation someone can thrive on.”
While Hernandez completed the program to improve self-sufficiency, his wife and kids accompanied him on each visit to the Cathedral City Corps and found support from engaging with staff.
“[The Cathedral City Corps] became a place that we all wanted to be,” Hernandez said. “We were so welcome—everyone knew our names and were so happy to see us. It was like being on vacation when he walked in there.”
There, the Hernandezes participated in various programs and events, including family pickleball games and arts and crafts. They also joined holiday initiatives like Angel Tree for Christmas gifts and received Thanksgiving meals.
He said the consistency of the program and support benefitted his family the most.
“Just knowing that The Salvation Army could be there for us gave us hope,” Hernandez said.
Cathedral City Corps Officer Major Rubina Navarro said the broad array of services work together to support and uplift those in need.
“The dramatic impact of Pathway of Hope creates a ripple effect to the whole family and the generations to come,” Navarro said. “It’s wonderful to see how a little help can go a long way.”
In just under two years, Hernandez graduated from Pathway of Hope by meeting most of his goals. A few months later, his family was accepted into a new apartment.
Today, he spends his week studying and preparing for the bar exam. On weekends, he works at his auto stereo shop. He said although his schedule is busy, he has numerous goals for the future and now feels more capable of achieving them.
“I’m just so thankful for Pathway of Hope,” Hernandez said. “I feel like I’m finally paving a path that my kids can follow.”
Do Good:
- See how The Salvation Army fights homelessness.
- Did you know The Salvation Army served some 24 million Americans last year fighting hunger, homelessness, substance abuse and more? Where can you help? Take our quiz to find your cause and learn how you can join in today.
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