In the summer of 2022, a single mother with two children whom we will call “Maggie” was desperate to find housing. She had been unhoused for over a year. Aside from the stress of being unhoused, she was dealing with severe health issues and battling an aggressive form of Cancer. She was on a fixed income and unable to work, which led to countless denials for housing. Even with the support of Partners in Housing Solutions, Maggie’s situation was incredibly difficult. She often expressed being afraid of losing her battle without having found a home for her children. Without a stable place to live, Maggie was not getting the proper health care and help she needed.

In the fall of 2020 Angelica and her family were referred to Partners in Housing Solutions (PHS) for housing assistance. Angelica worked in agriculture for over 13 years and did freelance work on the side to support her five young children. Angelica became pregnant and experienced health issues; that only allowed her to work part-time. Unable to keep up with rent, she and her family became homeless. They moved into a local shelter in the spring of 2020 during the height of the pandemic, soon after, Angelica was infected with COVID-19 which prompted her to go into early labor. Once recovered, Angelica and her children returned to the shelter but were unable to stay long-term and became unsheltered.

Last year, Sophy had plans lined up to move out of Santa Barbara County and start a new career. She gave her landlord notice and resigned from her job of many years. The week she was scheduled to move, her world stopped in an instant when she learned that her father was diagnosed with Cancer.

In 2017 I suffered health complications which led me and my two teenage
boys into homelessness. Although I’ve worked for the same employer for
the past twelve years, I was unable to meet many landlord’s rental criteria.

In 2015, I was met with the lowest point of my life. My children were in foster care, I was on probation, and I did not have a stable living situation or the credit to support my current issues from being resolved.