Neighbor Impact Stories
Susan’s Story
Housing Instability
Healthcare
Utilities
Public Assistance
Details and names of individuals have been changed to respect their privacy.
Meet Our Neighbor
Our neighbor, Susan, a senior battling depression and living alone, suddenly fell behind on her bills. Rent eviction notices, disconnection notices, respiratory disease, and language barriers begin to overwhelm our neighbor. Social Security being her only source of income, she did not know how she would be able to sustain living at her current residence. Susan was not aware of all the other public assistance programs that she was eligible for.
Supporting Our Neighbor
The Advocate promptly found a program that provided financial support to aid in paying Susan’s overdue rent and utility bills. The Advocate contacted Susan’s landlord and negotiated an extension on her behalf. An application was filled out requesting energy assistance so that going forward, her bills will not be able to exceed what is affordable based on her income. In doing so, our neighbor was able to avoid being displaced from her home. Additionally, the Advocates have started the process of connecting Susan to a local PCP who can address her depression and respiratory disease.
Brad’s Story
Housing Instability
Food Insecurity
Utilities
Healthcare
Meet Our Neighbor
Our neighbor, Brad, in need of behavioral health assistance felt forced to live with his ex-wife. Anxiety, depression, trauma, and COPD left our neighbor feeling helpless. Brad was not able to afford rent, pay utility bills, or provide food for himself. Brad was once again facing eviction.
Supporting Our Neighbor
After speaking with Brad and empathizing with his story, the Advocates instantly took action. They coordinated with our impact partners and helped prevent eviction by conferring with his proprietor. The Advocates succeeded in having funds applied to past due rent. They aided Brad with utility and Wi-Fi discounts while connecting him to food pantries in his area. The Advocates will continue to support our neighbor, as they navigate through finding an accessible PCP to address his COPD, Behavioral health needs, and more.
Tiffany’s Story
Housing Instability
Food Insecurity
Clothing Scarcity
Utilities
Meet Our Neighbor
Our neighbor, Tiffany, a single mother of 3, is the sole earner of the household after her husband suddenly passed on. Our neighbor, being a healthcare worker herself, has had difficulty providing the necessities for her children. Some of her children did not have shoes, some could no longer fit their pants, and others were wearing hand-me-downs. Throughout it all, Tiffany, does her best to provide shelter, electricity, and food.
Supporting Our Neighbor
Our Advocates, diligently, searched through our resources of impact partners, who were able to supply Tiffany with the essential items she needed at no cost. Her children were supplied with new and “trendy” items. Our neighbor communicated how thankful she was for her children having, coats, winter clothes, and an abundance of shoes however, our Advocates did not stop there. They proceeded to assist Tiffany in getting her rent, utility, and cell phone bills reduced. In addition to helping her access multiple sources of food regularly for free.
Helene’s Story
Housing Conditions
Healthcare
Meet Our Neighbor
Our neighbor, Helene, is a single mother of two experiencing instability due to healthcare complications. These complications compounded with unemployment challenges led to a move from a stable apartment to an unheated basement dwelling. Shortly after moving to the new location, her normally well-controlled asthma began causing problems.
Supporting Our Neighbor
After hearing Helene's story, the Advocate conducted a home evaluation questionnaire with her. From the Advocate’s experience as an asthma educator, she is aware that basements and other damp areas are subject to indoor mold which can create issues for those living with asthma. The evaluation revealed a need to move to a different location. The Advocate worked with the housing authority to understand how Helene's living conditions are affecting her asthma and prioritize supporting her with a new apartment. They also began working with the Helene’s primary care provider to apply for a short-term disability income.
Diana’s Story
Transportation
Household Items
Public Assistance Programs
Meet Our Neighbor
The family of our neighbor, Diana, abruptly and unexpectedly lost their sole income provider weeks before she gave birth to their newest member. This left Diana and their children without any support to meet immediate financial obligations. Unfamiliarity with public assistance programs and lack of a car for doctor's appointments and job searching left our neighbor feeling lost.
Supporting Our Neighbor
The Advocate immediately understood what needed to be done to support Diana and her family. With the support of bosWell's case management program and our impact partners, Diana received necessary baby items including diapers and wipes. She was engaged with a non-emergency transportation program. The Advocate also helped her apply for social service programs to help the family thrive in their community including SNAP, childcare and WIC.
Elizabeth’s Story
Housing Instability
Food Insecurity
Clothing Scarcity
Utilities
Meet Our Neighbor
Our neighbor, Elizabeth, is a single mother with a young daughter. A leave from work to focus on mental health conditions contributed to delays in paying rent and utility bills. While she has returned to work, she had already received an eviction notice and was behind on costs. Elizabeth reached out to bosWell for guidance and assistance with rent, utilities, food and clothing for her family.
Supporting Our Neighbor
The Advocate team quickly contacted Elizabeth's landlord to stop the eviction process. Additionally, they found a single location where she could obtain both food and clothing for her family. After a difficult day, the Advocates reached out for a wellness check and to provide emotional support with budget friendly self-care options. Elizabeth has been grateful and optimistic about attaining her goals for independence.