The Heart helps hundreds with ARRA-funded Calworks Housing Program push

The morning she walked into Sacred Heart Community Service, Teresa was 24-years-old, a single mother of two babies, and one week from eviction.

She wasn't alone either. Dozens of families came to the Heart for appointments on two Saturdays in August. They met with members of the Sacred Heart Housing Team, which is rushing to help as many people as possible before the ARRA-funded Calworks Housing Program expires on Sept. 1.

A customer going over paperwork with a Housing Team member

In just those two weekends, the Housing Team helped 77 households request a total of more than $120,000 to address emergency housing and utility needs. Overall, housing staff and volunteers helped 106 adults and 101 children living in our own local neighborhoods.

The stories housing staff and volunteers hear are often heartbreaking. Teresa, while sitting in the corner of the Housing office, recounted her story with tears in the corners of her eyes.

"I have never seen myself in this situation, and it's really hard," she said.

After a year of unemployment, she was planning to attend school to become a kind of licensed cosmetic skincare specialist called an esthetician. But to reserve her space in class, she needed to buy an expensive kit of supplies. With little money to spare, Teresa took a risk and bought the kit. But the cost of the esthetician supplies was just too much, and Teresa soon fell behind on her rent. After a couple months, she was on the verge of being evicted from her home with two infants and nowhere to go.

"I have a week. After that that I will have to go to a shelter," Teresa said while waiting for her appointment with the Housing Team. "I have a two year old and a one year old. I don't want them to see that kind of situation. I want the best for them, and I'm trying … I'm trying my best."

Thankfully, the Sacred Heart Housing Team was able to work out a plan to help Teresa catch up on her rent, and with a little luck, she hopes to soon be back on her feet and working on her goal of becoming an esthetician.

For more information about Sacred Heart Community Service, visit sacredheartcs.org.