Who Steps in When a Single Parent Is Sick?
Single father Deshawn worked day and night to support his young daughter, Malia, succeeding in two jobs to pay the rent and cover food, gas, and all of their other expenses. Despite the additional pressures of the pandemic, the young family was getting by until tragedy hit.
DeShawn became seriously ill. Pandemic-related issues delayed a needed surgery, keeping DeShawn off his feet and out of work well past his savings. Unable to pay his rent, he and Malia were evicted.
With nowhere to go in the middle of the night, the pair went to Boston Children’s Hospital’s emergency room seeking help and shelter. The ER referred them to FamilyAid through our collaborative partnership program. We quickly placed the family in one of our shelters, with social work staff working around the clock to address the family’s immediate food and clothing needs, and search for stable housing.
“Having FamilyAid’s support changed everything. They made sure we had a temporary roof over our heads, and then helped me figure out housing options and a ton of paperwork. It was unbelievable. On days when I felt overwhelmed, my case manager stepped in and motivated me to keep going. After we got a housing voucher through FamilyAid, their team found the best apartment for Malia and me,” DeShawn shared.
Moving can be physically taxing and financially impossible for many families living on the edge. But FamilyAid makes this process as smooth as possible for every family. The agency provided DeShawn with movers and donor-funded household items and furniture. We then connected DeShawn to new public resources to offset the cost of utility bills and other expenses until he could get healthy and get back to work.
“This is my daughter’s first stable home in a long while. I’m happy that FamilyAid made that happen. Every day I wake up and I really can’t believe we finally made it to our own apartment. It’s a blessing. I’m still taking it all in. Thank you, FamilyAid, for giving us a new start.”
DeShawn is overjoyed to provide his daughter with stable housing. He found the courage to ask for help when his family needed it most, and they are now thriving in a long-term, safe environment. He is recovering from surgery and will soon go back to work with a goal of helping others who have experienced homelessness.
“The families in our care have the strength and resiliency to become housed. They just need direction and support,” says Case Manager Luci DaSilva. “We are excited for DeShawn’s future and share his story with hopes that it will inspire others to keep moving forward”.
