SABRINA’S STORY
I was a victim of domestic violence for years and didn’t know
how to get away from my abuser. I became a shell of the
person I once was. Every day was painful because I felt like
I was walking on egg shells in my house and would hold
back many, many tears. I felt like I was dying.
Finally, one morning I wrote a 30-day notice to the apartment
manager and dropped it off at the leasing office and donated
everything I owned to Goodwill. I packed up my car with two
suitcases. I lived from place to place with family and friends.
Everyone I lived with charged me very high rent to sleep on
their sofa or floor with my children.
I didn’t know what to do anymore or where to go, so one day I
got up very early and drove around to community centers and
told them my situation. In the end, I was referred to LAHSA and
the Homeless CalWORKs Families Project. LAHSA helped me
get transportation assistance, emergency shelter, counseling
and eventually, permanent housing through Section 8.
Today my life is stable. I go to school and work part-time, but most
importantly, I have a place to call home – I have my own apartment.
Thank you LAHSA for giving me a second chance at life.
Sincerely,
Sabrina
“
Today my life is stable. I go to school and
work part-time, but most importantly, I
have a place to call home – I have my own
apartment. Thank you LAHSA for giving
me a second chance at life.”
–
Sabrina
Reaching the Homeless
A LESSON IN CARING
Michel is a 75-year-old man LAHSA’s outreach team assisted
for over one year until he received permanent housing.
Michel’s story begins when a concerned citizen and small
business owner, Gerhard, contacted LAHSA in 2010 seeking
help to get Michel off the streets. At the time, he was living
under an overpass in Los Angeles near to Gerhard’s business
and in great need of professional medical and mental care.
According to Gerhard, who became Michel’s caretaker and
advocate, Michel refused to move from the location and was
fearful of making contact with people other than Gerhard. He
also reported that for two years Michel slept standing and
humped over a shopping cart containing his belongings and
that this posture had taken a heavy toll on Michel’s body.
LAHSA’s outreach team worked with Gerhard to gain Michel’s
trust, and through perseverance, the team was eventually
able to connect Michel to the services and housing he des-
perately needed. Today, Michel lives in his own Section
8
apartment.
Michel’s story illustrates how ordinary people in the commu-
nity like Gerhard, can make a big difference in helping
the homeless gain stable lives and housing.
“
Miracles on Skid Row do happen and
Michel may be its poster child. Without
LAHSA’s help and support Michel would
probably still be living under an overpass.”
–
Gerhard
Michel (left) celebrating his 75th birthday with Gerhard (right) in Michel’s
Section 8 apartment.
7
Sabrina, Homeless CalWORKs Families Project client
