“We live in a low-income family apartment complex with my parents. I worked full time before COVID19, now I only work 16 – 20 hrs. per week. Before COVID it was really hard to provide for my three children and my elder parents to cover their basic necessities, but now, it feels impossible to do it. I applied for unemployment benefits but I did not qualify for them. Thanks to the rent moratorium I knew I was not going to be evicted for not paying rent, but it was so stressful to think about how I was going to pay back the money owed. I spent many nights doing the math, looking at the piling bills and getting frustrated. I thought about changing jobs, but there were not many openings. When the services coordinator of my complex of apartments sent me the application to apply for rental assistance with the Emergency Housing Fund, I applied right away. I was desperate and I got hopeful that I would be eligible for the assistance, but at times I would be so sad and worried thinking that I was not going to get it.
To HIF, I want to say THANK YOU! Thank you for being the light at the end of the tunnel, for giving me hope during these dark times. Thank you for proving me and my family a little peace of mind, now I will be able to buy school supplies for the kids who start distance learning this week.
Thank you again, it may only be seen as financial assistance, but it is so much more than that, it is so uplifting and encouraging for families like mine to know that there are still people with good hearts that care for others.”