Finding Home During a Pandemic
In the early summer of 2019, Charity started feeling unwell. At first, she thought she was just exhausted from working two jobs and having a newborn, but soon she started experiencing dizzy spells. After a month of these symptoms, Charity went to a community clinic that referred her to a specialist. Charity was quickly hospitalized, and her newborn daughter, Laila, had to stay with Charity’s parents.
After a month of various tests and treatments, Charity’s doctors found the right medication that allowed Charity to return home, care for her daughter, and eventually return to work. Charity planned on staying with her parents until she could get back on her feet, but over the course of two months, both of her parents passed away. Charity and Laila found themselves with no support system and no place to call home.
Eventually, Charity came to FamilyAid Boston and entered FamilyAid’s shelter program. Working closely with a FamilyAid Boston social worker, Charity was able to find affordable childcare for Laila and was able to return to work waitressing at a local restaurant. While in shelter, Charity kept a strict budget. She wanted to make sure that she saved enough money to move out of shelter and still have savings to fall back on just in case of another health scare.
Charity was getting ready to look for an apartment of her own when COVID-19 hit. First, Laila’s daycare closed, and Charity had to miss a few days of work; then, within a week, her restaurant closed as well. Suddenly, Charity was faced with giving up her hopes for an apartment of her own or feeding her baby. She was also terrified of going to the store as she knew her medical condition made her high-risk. When her FamilyAid Boston social worker called to ask if she needed food or supplies, it came as such a relief, knowing she would not have to put herself or Laila at risk.
Through FamilyAid Boston’s humanitarian relief deliveries, Charity was able to get food, toiletries, and diapers without leaving the house. She also continued working with her Housing Placement Specialist to virtually view apartments and found an apartment of her own, which she moved into on June 15th. Charity has also been able to return to work. She is currently alternating shifts with another waitress running their restaurants’ take out operations. Charity and the other waitress take turns working and watching each other’s kids so they both can remain employed.
After Charity settled into her new apartment, she sent a note to her FamilyAid Boston team:
“Thanks for all that you have done for my daughter and I. Also thank all your coworkers for all the hard work they do with FamilyAid. It really hit me today that because you guys keep bringing bags of food out and little things here and there, I am able to keep things going smoothly. If you could, let anyone and everyone know that clients are so appreciative of all that you guys do. I guess I just want everyone to know that there are people out here that are legit where they are now, in a positive space, because of you.”
