A Critical Safety Net: How Bobby Found His Home
When Bobby, a 71-year-old blind widower, suddenly lost his housing this year, True North Housing Alliance was there to help him. Through our programs, he found shelter, safety and the supportive services he needed to find a new, affordable place to call home.
Bobby smiles in his new living room with Brittiney, his case manager.
A Welcome, Safe Place
Bobby had never been homeless before. But when a family member he was staying with was evicted, Bobby, a 71-year-old blind man, suddenly had nowhere to go.
He applied to dozens of places, but was added to wait list after wait list. He was hit with a double dose of troubles, he said, experiencing homelessness during the coronavirus pandemic. As a senior, that was particularly worrying.
Then, he became connected with True North Housing Alliance, and everything changed for the better.
Bobby was born blind. While he’s never let his visual impairment get in the way of leading a happy, successful life, he was worried when he first arrived at the Torres Community Shelter, a program of True North, because he didn’t want to be too difficult to work with.
What he found was a loving team that made him feel welcome and safe, he said. Bobby never felt like a burden at the Torres Shelter.
Brittiney, his case manager, said that she made a connection with Bobby right away.
She was able to assure him that his needs weren’t more difficult than others, they were just different. The True North team served as his eyes at the shelter, helping him physically navigate the building as well as the steps needed to move forward in his life.
“He is a kind soul, he has a great sense of humor and he does not let his disability hold him back,” Brittiney said.
Shortly after he began staying at the shelter, Bobby moved into a local motel room via Project Roomkey, a program of True North, which helped him safely shelter in place. Brittiney continued working with him to secure important resources, such as affordable housing and health insurance.
That’s when Bobby heard the incredible news that he’d have a place to call home at last.
A Happy Retirement
Bobby said everything has gone very well for him since he turned to True North.
He’s so glad to be independent and have a place of his own, he said. He’s looking forward to enjoying his retirement, and is planning a trip to visit his friends in Oregon once it is safe to travel.
The True North team still checks in with him regularly to make sure he has all the tools needed to move forward into the next chapter of his life safely and successfully.
Bobby said that he would want others to know that “the Torres Shelter is a place where people can stay and be safe while waiting for a place to live.”
“They immediately made me feel right at home. They immediately made me feel welcome,” Bobby said.
Make A Difference
In partnership with Safe Space Winter Shelter, we’ve secured the resources to place 20 people, including Bobby, into housing as part of the Project Roomkey program. This is just since the pandemic began. But so many more vulnerable people need our help.
To support True North’s housing programs and help people like Bobby find a place to call home, please consider making a donation today.
If you are a landlord or property manager interested in partnering with True North, please give us a call at (530) 891-9048. You also can find out more about our master lease program here.