Catholic Charities' Housing Continuum Helps Homeless Regain Stability
“I’m a big cooker,” said Aunita Hobbs, grandmother of two.
But she hasn’t been able to cook as much as she’d like in recent years.
Hobbs used to have her own place and a good job as a home health care aide caring for children with disabilities. Then, she spent a month in the hospital for surgery and was unable to work. She stayed with a friend, but could not live there permanently – and found herself without a place to stay.
With no other resources, Hobbs found refuge at Dorothy Day Center. She slept on the floor each night, cleaning off tables and picking up mats in the morning so she could stay inside a bit longer before heading out into the cold weather.
Reaching Greater Stability
Like many Catholic Charities clients, Hobbs progressed through Catholic Charities’ housing continuum to try to regain her self-sufficiency. She moved from Dorothy Day to Mary Hall’s single-room occupancy program, and then a year later to St. Christopher Place, a permanent housing program with supportive services.
The housing continuum serves to transition homeless individuals back into housing. Along the way, people receive shelter and supportive services to address their personal barriers. For Hobbs, this meant building a rental history and finding affordable housing.
Her case manager at Mary Hall helped Hobbs receive Social Security Disability, and she moved into a room at St. Christopher Place. With two years of rental history built up, Hobbs was ready for the final step in the continuum – a place of her own. She recently moved into an apartment, where her daughter and grandchildren can visit, and she can cook in the privacy of her own kitchen.
|
