Lilian’s Story:
From Survival to Possibility
Isolated, confused and broken, she was at a fragile crossroads. It was not an easy decision, but she knew she had to take a risk, leaping into the unknown.
When she was in her early 20s Lilian Guan made a brave move to flee a volatile home, driven by desperation to protect herself and her siblings.
“I wondered if I had suffered enough to leave. But I knew if we didn’t go, we were not going to survive, yet I was terrified to leave.”
As the oldest of three children, she carried the weight of that decision.
“We left my mother behind, I felt I had abandoned her, and she was the sacrifice so we could be free.”
That freedom came at a high cost.
Lilian struggled to make ends meet, working to support herself and her brother and sister while navigating constant uncertainty.
“It’s complete despair. You can’t afford to fail; you need to pay rent. You can’t get sick; you need to go to work. You’re sinking every day. It felt like a race against time, but I had to keep going.”
At a critical moment, she found a lifeline.
Through a referral from her social worker, Lilian connected to Momentum, a United Way- supported partner helping Calgarians build financial stability and independence.
Through Momentum’s PartTime Self-Employment Program, a simple idea began to take shape.
Inspired by a gold pendant her mother had gifted her, Lilian created heirloom jewelry, pieces that carry stories of healing, resilience and connection.
“It was all she had, and I realized my mother endured everything she did so she could give us more.”
With support from Momentum, made possible through United Way, Lilian began to rebuild her life.
She is one of 120 other Calgarians who participated in the program in 2025, each facing barriers to meaningful employment but working toward viable products or services and a more stable future.
As her business grew, Lilian continued her journey through Momentum’s Fair Gains matched savings program. She gained the financial knowledge and tools she needed to achieve something that once felt out of reach: homeownership.
“Before this program, a mortgage was an elusive term to me. I didn’t have the concrete steps to act on it, but this gave me momentum to achieve it.”
“Their support was pivotal. They met me where I was at and got me on a journey I never thought was possible. I gained financial capital and social capital—I now have confidence.”
In 2025, 117 diverse and marginalized people participated in the same program. The value of the matched savings provided to participants was $223,646. Like Lilian, approximately three people per year purchase a home through this program.
Through United Way’s Community Impact Fund, partners like Momentum can respond to real needs by providing flexible, wraparound support that helps individuals move from crisis to stability, and from stability to possibility.
What began as a story of survival has become one of strength, independence and lasting change.
Lilian’s journey is one example and a testament to what is possible when a community comes together to invest in people.
