The Fraziers are a representative case. Urban Ministries has about a dozen other households - families and individuals - stable and confident enough to make the jump from shelter to independence.

The goal, though, is not just to move them out but to keep them out on their own. On that point, the Fraziers and others in similar situations could use some help.

There are the basics, like furniture, and needs that are not so tangible.

"We don't want regular living to be so hard," said UMD Director Patrice Nelson. "Just to have a table and chairs would make life so much easier some days.

"But also ... there's a whole lot of emotional support that is critical for any of us when we are going through hard times."

Like people to talk to and communities to be part of. In the shelter, Nelson said, Frazier had a case worker next door or across the hall to talk over a problem with or blow off steam at or just pass the time of day with.

"But once you leave here, and you move out into the community, all of those folks who have ben there for you when you come home from work ... are much further away," Nelson said.

"We want people to succeed by building new community networks."

Toward that end, UMD and its ally agencies such as Housing for New Hope are looking for congregations, civic organizations and similar groups willing to take households in transition under their wings - and/or to donate household items such as chairs, beds, microwaves, bed linens, towels, pots and pans. In Frazier's case, he has some furniture that's been in storage and he and the children have joined and become active in a church.

Discouragement and worry aren't gone, though.

"It's still scary," Frazier said. "I worry about the future. I want full-time employment. Two days a week just don't pay the bills. ...

"I take it one day at a time, I think about the future a lot, though," he said. "I just don't want nothing to go wrong again."

That's where some help would help, Bradford said.

"He's going to need some support from some area," Bradford said. "It could be in the community, it could be his church, it could be some organization out there just to keep that push at his back: 'Let's stay focused, Micah. Stay focused.' "