CARY — Some homeless families in Cary are getting back on their feet, thanks to a unique program called the Carying Place.

As a single mother, Kim Alston earns a living at the Heaven's Light Daycare Center in Cary. A year ago, no matter how much she worked, she could not make ends meet.

"I lost my home and I decided I didn't want to go live with friends or relatives. I thought the best thing was to do it on my own," she says.

Alston sought help from the Carying Place, which provides transitional housing for homeless families. The Carying Place found Alston an apartment and paid her rent and utilities for four months. At the same time, volunteers taught her how to manage a budget.

"I had guidelines for gas, food, clothing, postage stamps, magazines, entertainment, everything," she says.

"Whenever she got money, she spent it and she didn't know what she had spent it on. She didn't know what things cost, and she was surprised that she didn't have any money left," says Joe Rappl of The Carying Place.

Nine months later, Alston pays her own rent and and has enough left over for a rainy day.

"I have money sitting in the bank for me and my children. It really feels good, makes me feel good," she says.

The Carying Place relies on more than 200 volunteers. Ninety percent of families who graduate from the Carying Place are still self-sufficient a year later.

For more information about the Carying Place, call (919) 462-1800.