For Delilah, it’s been a long eight-year journey. She’s gone from living in a cardboard box in a field, to using cardboard boxes for packing as she prepares to move into her new home!
Her journey has been challenging, filled with many obstacles, but Delilah is now planting her flag at the top of her mountain. Eight years ago, all seemed hopeless and that mountain insurmountable. With the encouragement of HART volunteers, Delilah has overcome her addiction and worked full-time, often with a second job on the side, to secure housing for her and her family.
When we see people on the side of the road, homeless and destitute, it’s easy to think they’ll never climb out of that hole. That’s simply not the case. So often we’ve been surprised by people overcoming incredible struggles. Delilah is just 
one of the many people who have passed through the hands of HART volunteers. The difference in our program is that we care for each person one at a time. Every individual, each family, is so unique. It’s unfair to lump them all together with one simple solution. There simply isn’t one.
one of the many people who have passed through the hands of HART volunteers. The difference in our program is that we care for each person one at a time. Every individual, each family, is so unique. It’s unfair to lump them all together with one simple solution. There simply isn’t one.We’re often asked, “What is the solution to homelessness?” There is no magic answer, but what is critical is to meet people where they are, one on one. It’s amazing what someone can do with personal encouragement. Is it always successful? Of course not. Yet our formula in Elk Grove has been highly effective. Eight out of ten people whom we work with in our transitional houses stabilize their lives and are able to maintain permanent housing.
Not everybody is cut out to be a mentor or work with the unhoused, but you can help financially by supporting Elk Grove HART. You can be part of the solution to getting people off the street and into permanent housing. It is sad how many of those people are children. We have several educators on our board that are intent on seeing those children succeed. And they do. Next month one of those children will graduate from high school and will be attending nursing school. We couldn’t be prouder!
You can help by contributing to the Big Day of Giving anytime between now and 11:59 pm on May 2. Help Elk Grove continue to be a compassionate community that truly cares about its most vulnerable citizens.