Finding a Place to Call Home
As more individuals and families face the reality of homelessness, Utah’s Place is available to support them. The rising cost of housing and daily necessities is sadly landing more people on the streets, having no place to call home. During the holiday season, this can be especially disheartening.
Although the realities are sobering, I would like to share a story of hope and how our community impacted a local couple who asked for help, received it, and are now on their way to rebuilding their lives. It is a story about a couple who did not give up on each other or their dreams and, with the help of Hospitality House, have a wonderful new beginning.
A Story of Persistence and Love: Long-time residents of Nevada County, Mark, and Mary thought they “had it all.” Happily married with two kids, they owned a home they loved in Penn Valley. She stayed home with the kids while he worked as a successful union surveyor. They lived a good life. During the economic downturn, Mark was laid off from work. They used Mark’s unemployment and credit cards to “get by” while Mark looked for a new job. But with bills piling up and their debt amassing, they decided to short-sell their home. Mark and Mary decided to rent a place in Penn Valley after Mark found a new job in the Bay Area, staying with his aging mother during the work week and returning home to Mary on the weekends. The time apart was not ideal, but he needed to provide for his family, and they both chose to stay in Penn Valley as it was home.
Mark and Mary were delighted when Mark later found a position in Sacramento that would allow him to work even closer to Penn Valley. “Everything was going great!” he said. “I loved my job and was told to expect a promotion.” However, not long afterward, his hours had to be cut, and he was subsequently laid off due to company struggles. Mark and Mary once again had to scrape by on unemployment but due to their credit card debt, they could no longer afford to pay their rent and credit card bills. Feeling out of options, they decided to give up the apartment and move into their car until Mark could find work. Mark’s unemployment was barely enough to pay for gas, food, and campgrounds. All the while, they continued to pay down their credit card debt to preserve their good name. Mark was desperately seeking work when the pandemic hit. Then there was no work.
They lived in their car with their beloved dog, Lulu for nine months. Mark and Mary both got COVID and became ill. They both recalled how awful it was for them to be so sick, having to sleep in the car during winter. Unfortunately, Mary’s situation worsened, and she ended up being admitted in to the hospital.
Looking back now, they both agree that it was “a blessing in disguise,” as that is when they found out about Hospitality House.
The hospital referred Mary to Hospitality House’s recuperative care program. Mark slept on a cot outside the door of Mary’s room with Lulu by his side. Their case manager, Fred, helped Mark and Mary access programs and resources to stabilize their health and financial well-being. Fred connected Mary to MediCal insurance and helped transport her to her medical appointments. Once they started receiving support, Mark was able to secure a job as a surveyor again. He had an income again, was able to get back on a health insurance plan, and even contributed to a 401(k). They were certain that life was now on the upswing but finding a place to call home was a tougher challenge than they ever imagined. Most landlords were looking for a long-term, stable income and a solid rental history. As previous homeowners, they had little rental history and with Mark’s job losses, the stable income history was just not there, and most rentals did not permit pets. Neither Mark nor Mary was going to give up precious Lulu. Months passed.
Mark felt terrible about not being able to give his wife and Lulu the life they deserved. “She has done such a good job with our kids, and she deserves so much more,” he shared in tears. While sheltering at Utah’s Place, Mark continued working and paying off their debt. Being employed while homeless allowed them the unique opportunity to pay off all their debt quickly, which was another huge relief as that was such a barrier to what they could afford to pay for housing.
A Happy New Beginning: Everyone at Hospitality House was overjoyed when our partners at FREED found Mark and Mary an apartment in Grass Valley. They moved in recently and will celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary together back in a home of their own. When asked what keeps them going through tough times, the answer was “their love for each other” and the idea of having a place to celebrate the holidays with their children again.
This story is just one example of what Hospitality House can do with the support of local donors. People like Mary and Mark come to us in dire situations and need help. Case managers create individualized case plans that address immediate needs first, then secondary needs and other necessities Hospitality House can help with during the search for housing solutions.
You can make a difference today. Many more people need help in Nevada County. Your donation will help Hospitality House provide immediate relief and help more individuals and families get on a path to stability and a place to call home. A gift of any size will be greatly appreciated. Generous local donors will match donations made by December 16th.
In Gratitude,
Nancy S. Baglietto, MSW
P.S. If you give by Dec 16, your donation will be matched. You can increase your impact by donating today.
DONATIONS ARE BEING MATCHED UNTIL DEC 16th – If you can, please give your gift by Dec. 16. Your generosity will be amplified, and you will support more people in returning to housing this holiday season!
Give Today to Magnify Your Impact.
Everhart Fire Victim Looking for a New Home:
72-year-old Donna became a guest at Hospitality House after a string of bad luck and a stroke made life even tougher. When her case manager, Eric helped her access a housing voucher and a place to live at the Everhart Hotel in Grass Valley in June, she was over the moon with excitement. She loved being independent and in her own place again. But you can only imagine her disappointment when only 2 months after finding her permanent home, a fire broke out at the hotel, and Donna was forced into homelessness again.
While Donna experienced another devastating setback, she has consistently been grateful for Utah’s Place. Eagerly anticipating another place of her own and the opportunity to get back to her hobbies of drawing and painting, she remains quite hopeful. Through all the ups and downs of life, Donna says it’s “the good people” she meets in a world of many bad ones that keep her spirits up.
You can help ensure emergency shelter, food, housing, and related services are always available
TO DONATE – CLICK HERE