Client Successes
Wendy’s Story
“I have to change my life and I know it’s up to me,” Wendy said when she enrolled in our eviction prevention program.
Lacking an adequate support system, Wendy suffered from depression and chronic health problems, which impacted her ability to work, pay her bills consistently, keep her home clean and livable, and as a result, maintain her housing.
A single mother of two daughters, Wendy was still struggling with the recent deaths of her parents to cancer and with the deaths of two infant sons several years prior. Emotional and physical turmoil often overwhelmed her, making it not only difficult to seek help, but difficult to understand help was available.
When working to create a list of goal and an action plan for achieving them, Wendy and her case manager decided it was most important for Wendy to have strong emotional support while addressing the other issues in her life. As a result, the Resident Choices purchased therapy for Wendy, allowing her to begin seeing a therapist.
After several weeks of therapy, Wendy was more hopeful about taking charge of her life. “I feel stronger and ready to fight,” she said. For Wendy, the road ahead is a long one, but she is hopeful because she now has access to a network of support. She meets weekly with her therapist to work on her depression and grief.
She recently underwent major surgery for removal of a vein blockage in her left leg. Once she fully recovers after a few months, she hopes to work with the Division of Vocation Rehabilitation to develop work skills and become more self-sufficient.
With support for her mental and physical issues, Wendy is more able to work on other areas to help stabilize her life. She is currently applying for Social Security benefits. During this same period Wendy also qualified for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). With support from her Resident Choices case coordinator, Wendy is working to clean and organize her home to a level that complies with SHA policies on housekeeping and grounds maintenance. She has paid her rent on time for the past 3 months, ensuring her housing is stable.
The success of Wendy’s story is that for the first time in many years, Wendy does not feel so alone in her struggles: “I know I don’t have to fix everything on my own…and I’m not afraid to ask for help.”