From Shelter to Soccer Scholar | Concord News

Concord News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 13, 2026 · 1m

Samantha Johnston just shattered ceilings as the first graduate of Concord’s Resident Success Program — turning her life around from shelter life with five kids to a thriving career in behavioral health, a bachelor’s degree in progress, and a credit score soaring from the 400s to the 600s. In just two years, she crushed her financial goals, paid off $140K in debt, and even saved enough to fund her kids’ soccer. The program’s “housing-first” model gives residents like her a stable foundation, plus a unique perk: rent increases tied to income go straight into a tax-free savings account…