Colorado Springs women praise state’s emergency rental assistance program

COLORADOSPRINGS,CO—DonellaSharp-Braxtonleansintoherfaithintimesofcrisisandformorethanayearshehasbeeninthemiddleofone.ShewasworkingfulltimeandhadrecentlyearnedherMBAwhenshewaslaidofffromherjobinAugustoflastyear. “Ididapplyforunemployment,”Sharp-Braxtonsaid.“IdidreceivethatuntilFebruaryof2025andtheysaidthefundshadbeenexhausted,soit’slike,ohGod,whatdoIdo?” Inthemeantime,shekeptapplyingforjobs,dozensofthem. News5’sDianneDerby:It’shardtoimaginethatyoucouldn’tfindajob. DonellaSharp-Braxton:Iamstillinaweatthat. Sharp-Braxtonevenearnedangraduatecertificateinartificialintelligencesystemsmanagement,hopingitwouldincreaseherchancesofgettingone. “Ithinkinorderforustogrow,weneedtoknowwhatthelatesttechnologyisifwewanttoberelevant,”Sharp-Braxtonsaid. Sincethen,shesaysshehasgonethroughallofhersavingsandevencashedouther401K.Shegotbehindonrentandwasfacingeviction. Sh