Together We Make a Difference

Maria, 66, spent most of her middle age working as a live-in caregiver. But in 2022, after her last client passed away, she was unable to find new work and became homeless.

At the time, Maria used money she had saved to buy an old car, where she would sleep at night.

Luckily, in late 2023, Case Manager Gaby Barrera of the Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD), helped Maria get accepted to a permanent housing project—and although the housing construction was expected to be completed by January of 2024, there were unexpected delays.

This forced Maria to continue sleeping in her car, and as tragedy would have it, it was later towed. Without any means of income, she could not pay the fines to recover her cherished car and began sleeping on the street, and if she was lucky, in a public restroom.

It was at this time that Maria’s fate would once again take a turn. Gaby found shelter for her at one of Interfaith Shelter Network’s rotations in Clairemont. Maria was grateful to finally sleep in the warm indoors and not in the cold rain at night. She quickly made friends with the shelter staff and other guests. Due to her bilingual skills, she helped interpret for volunteers and Spanish-speaking guests at the shelter.

On January 22, 2024, Maria moved into her new home and three days later invited staff to see her new place. When staff asked what her next goals were, Maria shared that she will continue focusing on improving her health and apply for Social Security Administration (SSA) retirement income on her 67th birthday.