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.

Heart benefits from ARRA-funded Summer Jobs for Youth

Sacred Heart Community Service became the beneficiary of lots of youthful energy this summer when we were chosen as one of the sites for the stimulus-funded Summer Jobs for Youth Program through the City of San Jose and Work-2-Future. We have ten young people working for us in various areas such as the Clothes Closet and the Food Pantry.

"The kids have really stepped up. For them to come here and work out of their comfort zone is hard work. They stepped into chaos and I commend them at that age for coming out to work,” said Karen Moretti, essential services lead, who is in charge of the Work-2-Future teens working in the pantry.

Here are a few of their stories:

Sisters at Work

Sisters Erika,17, and Lilliana,15, landed jobs together this summer working at Sacred Heart Community Service. This is the first job for both sisters who plan to use the money they earn to buy school clothes at the end of summer to take some of the financial pressure off their parents. Both sisters agreed that they enjoy working in the pantry because they meet a lot of interesting people and have even made friends with some of the regular customers. Erika thinks the hardest part is getting up in the morning to work the early shift, but admits it is something she has grown accustomed to. “This is a really great experience. This job kept me from sitting at home doing nothing,” said Erika. “And, it’s something I can add to my resume."

College Sophomore Takes Advantage of Stimulus Opportunity

Annika, a seventeen-year-old sophomore at San Jose City College, is working in the Heart’s Food Pantry at this summer. She started in late June and will continue to work through mid-August until school starts again. Annika takes the bus everyday to and from work. She plans to save the money she earns this summer. Although Sacred Heart is not Annika’s first job, it is her first job at a non-profit. Previously, Annika worked at Great America and Finish Line. Annika enjoys getting to know the ‘regular’ customers and says she is pleased to observe that many are genuinely thankful for the help they receive. She has also made friends working alongside the other Work-2-Future teens.

Local Teen saves money for a car

Chavonne,15, has been working in the clothes closet this summer as part of the Work-2- Future program. She works the floor, sorting clothes and at the counter she checks customers out, which she really enjoys. Chavonne likes working in the clothes closet and interacting with the customers. “If they are having a bad day, I just know I have to back-off and give them space. I don’t take it personally,” said Chavonne. Sacred Heart has been her first job and she thinks it has been a great experience. Chavonne decided to apply for the Works-2-Future program because not a lot of places hire 15-year-olds and she wanted a job for the summer. She wants to save the money she earns and put it towards a car. Chavonne’s time at Sacred Heart ends on August 13th and then she will return to school.