Sacremento Self Help Housing

Amelia's Story

Here's a photo of Amelia's new place at The Gardens at Quail Run Apartments in Elk Grove. Last month, Amelia moved into one of the 96-unit affordable housing complexes that are set to house around 200 residents. It was a long strenuous journey for her to find housing. Luckily, SSHH's program and her persistence were there to help.

Everyone has barriers to permanent housing. Your income, credit score, family situation, and unfortunately, gender and ethnicity can either be a hindrance or a benefit when applying for a mortgage, submitting a rental application, or putting a downpayment on a home. Amalia, who’s giving the “thumbs up,” in the photo here struggled to find housing because the barriers continued to compile.

Amelia is a single mother of 3 whose previous partner ruined her credit score. She works more than full-time. In 2020, the house she rented for 5 years was sold and is now under new out-of-state ownership. After poor communication from the owner, she was asked to leave with little notice to find housing for her family and adjust her Housing Choice Voucher information. She spent $3,000 on 35 rental applications to no avail. No one wanted to rent to her because her family was too big, her credit was poor, and she received a Housing Choice Voucher.

“I know it’s illegal to discriminate on family size and Section 8 when applying for housing. But when you live in your car, work full time, and your children are couch surfing, you don't have time or extra money to sit on hold with the Housing Authority or a fair housing attorney. You just have to move forward.”

Another complex barrier was the increasing cost of security deposits and meeting the rental income requirements. “In most situations, it was impossible for me to pay 3 months rent and a security deposit and make 3x the rent in income on a home appropriate for the size of my family.” On top of this, Amelia struggled to communicate with resources regarding her Housing Choice Voucher.

In a streak of luck, through a 2-1-1 referral, Amelia connected to Elk Grove HART and SSHH’s Transitional Housing Program. After 2 months on the street, she moved into Elk Grove’s Transitional House for families. Here, she was reunited with her children and lived rent-free.

Now her family could live their lives again. Her children attended school while she went to work. They slept with a roof over their head and a safe place to eat dinner as a family. Amelia saved her earnings and built back her credit score. With her case manager's help, she applied to live in the new affordable housing complex in Elk Grove. Luckily she was accepted.

After the turbulent journey of housing insecurity, Amelia is looking forward. She is continuing to work to improve her credit score. She would like to one day own a home.

If you are or believe you are being discriminate against, please call SSHH's Renters Helpline at 916-389-7877

"Without your programs, I wouldn't be here today."

This time last year, Michael spent his days looking for food, a shower, and a place to sleep. Now, he's working full-time and saving his earnings for a place to call his own.

Michael is a resident of SSHH's Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Program. When he entered our program, Michael struggled with anxiety and depression. "At first, it was hard for me to even get out of bed and take a shower. The adjustment was difficult."

His case manager insisted Michael set small daily attainable goals and get connected with medical professionals to support his mental health.

13 months later, Michael can be found working full-time at the local gas station and being creative. Michael loves writing.

"After connecting with a medical professional and becoming comfortable in our program, Michael's small steps of taking a shower and making appointments turned into big steps of progress. Michael is working full time because of his hard work in applying to every job he could find, looking into furthering his education, repairing his car, and searching for apartments that fit his budget."

We are so proud of Michael. SSHH fully expects to share a story of Michael's "move out," in the near future.

Michael is one of 244 guests in SSHH's PPSH Program. PSH is a program that uniquely serves chronically unhoused, disabled, and isolated individuals and families. Research suggests that PSH decrease homelessness, increase housing stability, increase health outcomes for the community and program participants, and decrease public costs often associated with the unhoused living on the street such as emergency services, jails, hospitals, and law enforcement.

Please consider donating monthly to support SSHH's PSH program here. Learn more about our PSH Program here.

Rafael

Meet Rafael

Rafael is a veteran, musician, dog owner… and now permanently housed with his family.

Before connecting with the SSHH Citrus Heights Outreach Navigator, Rafael spent 33 days in a hotel. Rafael is a musician and struggled to find work due to COVID-19 and housing due to the lack of options to meet his and his family’s needs.

“We need more people like Yvette (SSHH’s Citrus Heights Outreach Navigator).”

When in the hotel, Yvette provided Rafael with a list of room and board and other housing options. Rafael called each and every one until he connected with the right person. Now, Rafael is home.

Congrats Rafael! And thanks to Citrus Heights HART for the support.

Olivia

Meet Olivia

Olivia is a current long-time resident of our Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH).

Olivia became homeless 7 years ago because she had to choose between paying rent and paying for her cancer treatment. Olivia chose to live... she lost her housing.

Fast-forward 6 years, she is now an artist and an exceedingly successful PSH program participant. In the next 6 months, she will graduate from American River College with an Associate's Degree in graphic design. She will then start on her Bachelor of Arts at Sacramento State University.

Her hope is to find a job that will allow her to do what she loves. She hopes to one day move back to Texas to be with her family.

Lisbeth and Jacob

Lisbeth and her son Jacob are just one of the 108 families we housed in 2021 - One of the families SSHH helped transition to a life of permanent, safe, and sustainable housing. This mother gave us permission to share their story.

Lisbeth’s journey off the streets starts from a young age. As a child, she was abandoned by her family and sexually assaulted by a care provider. This led to trauma, and years of being human trafficked and abused. She moved all over the continental United States, homeless, unable to break the cycle.

“Before moving to Sacramento, I was in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Seattle running from my abuser. I was constantly running. I was stuck.”

Her son Jacob, pictured above, is her rock and motivation to live a better life. At 3 years old, Jacob stood up to his biological father when abusing his mother. “When I saw my son stand up to his father, I knew I had to decide whether or not I wanted to give my child a better life. I decided to call the police on my abuse for the first time. My son deserved the best that I could give him. And that was not the life we were currently living.”

From that point on Lisbeth accepted the new and uncomfortable feeling of pursuing a healthy life for her and her family. “I ran, but this time I left the unhealthy relationships and habits behind.” Lisbeth tried to take advantage of every resource out there, even if it came with the embarrassment of telling her story.

In August 2021, Lisbeth connected to a three-week paid motel shelter program. She moved into a motel right next door to a church active in Elk Grove HART. On a whim, she went into the church to look for a community. Luckily, she ran into the Elk Grove HART president Debbie, who immediately connected Lisbeth to SSHH’s Elk Grove Homeless Outreach Navigator.
Becky and Debbie collected donations and helped furnish the new apartment. Lisbeth and Jacob were finally home. On their way to drop off the donations, Jacob turned to Becky as they pulled into their new apartment, “Thank you, Miss Becky, that’s my house! Do you want a tour?” This was the first time Lisbeth ever heard Jacob say thank you.

At 34 years old Lisbeth signed the lease on her very first apartment. “I finally had a place I didn't need to fight, a place where I could be safe and start a new healthy life for my family.”

Tammy

Welcome home, Tammy! On Marth 31st, 2022 Tammy signed the lease to her new apartment. That will be the first night in 10 years she has a place to call her own. Tammy is a proud "graduate" of our Permanent Supportive Housing program.

"Never give up" is her mantra.

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