Give
Your gift directly supports the programs and services we provide to people who are overcoming homelessness. Thank you for your support.
COVID-19 had taken its toll on her family. Her in-laws grew tired of having the children underfoot all day and soon the pressure of living together proved too much for them. They were asked to leave.
It was a terrifying time for Lindsey and her family. Her 8-year-old was scheduled for surgery for his spina bifida and needed a stable place to recover. Her 2-year-old needed a safe environment to simply be a 2-year-old. Fears of Child Protective Services taking both children loomed in the back of her mind 24/7. She kept her situation a secret from the kids’ school to protect them from being removed from her custody. She was desperate with nowhere to turn.
Then she found Elk Grove HART, and her fears were diminished. It was a perfect match. She and her family moved into the Meadow House, into 2 bedrooms and a Jack and Jill bathroom. She and her husband in one room and the boys in the other. The walk-in shower was handicap accessible which allowed them to bathe their son after his surgery. He made a beautiful recovery and is back to walking.
Lindsey found employment and worked from the house during the day while her husband worked at night. This allowed them to both work and care for the children while they saved money. They have stabilized and done a great job of saving. This month they will be moving into their very own apartment!
Starting fresh is an exciting prospect for them. Lindsey says she has learned so much from the HART program. She was never taught to work hard or to save her money. She feels the life skills she has acquired during her stay at the Meadow House will help her live a lifestyle she can afford.
We are so proud of the hard work Lindsey and her husband have put into being successful. Life lessons, not only for them, but for her children too, who are always watching. Her goal is to break the chain of generational poverty that has plagued her family. She is well on her way to doing just that.
Elk Grove HART isn’t just about housing people, it’s about changing the trajectory of their lives. Please consider being part of the solution and donate generously on the Big Day of Giving. The donation link is open now at https://bigdayofgiving.org/elkgrovehart.
I couldn’t help but express my admiration for her, she had held it together for so long. Legally blind due to her Type 1 diabetes, she continued to work full-time and care for her 6th grader who was thriving. For 9 years she had paid rent on time and drove to Fairfield every day for work. Life was hectic, but good and stable.
In the blink of an eye, last July, her world caved in. Her landlord wanted $2,600 for the 3-bedroom condo she had been renting for $1,250. To avoid eviction, she and her daughter had no choice but to live in their car. She searched for an apartment, but finding one proved to be impossible. They required her income to be 3 ½ times the rent and great credit. She had neither.
Her health started to spiral as her stress level caused her to lose sleep, yet she continued to work. She knew she needed her income if there was any hope for their survival.
On September 10th she found her safety net and moved into one of our transitional family homes. She was finally able to breathe. Living in a house with 3 other families wasn’t easy. She had lived independently since she was 18. She and her daughter lived in a 10 X 10 room. However, she chose to be grateful and to do everything in her power to move up and out.
To that end, she quit her job in Fairfield and is now working from the office in the transitional house. Her endurance, strength and courage has paid off. She and her daughter will soon be moving into the Bow Street Apartments that are subsidized by the City, through developer fees. They are thrilled to soon be in their own place again. To aide them, one of our dedicated Elk Grove churches will be helping them to furnish their new place.
HART believes in working with our community to help care for those who are struggling. Would you consider being part of the solution? Please give generously to Elk Grove HART on the Big Day of Giving.