Dorothy is a 69-year-old woman who came to Metro Lutheran Ministry in January requesting help with her furnace. Her troubles quickly led to the loss of her home of 25 years and homelessness for both Dorothy and her daughter Janet.

This tragedy was magnified because Janet has developmental disabilities. During the day, she attends a sheltered workshop where she enjoys working and learning skills. More than anything, she loved to sit at home and play music with her mother. But the unlivable house forced her to stay with one relative, then another. Dorothy worried about Janet’s safety and missed their time together

After Dorothy contacted MLM, older adult Services Coordinator Katie Brennan Homiak and volunteer Leroy Zimmerman made a home visit. Leroy quickly realized the home was in need of extensive, major repairs. The furnace had been tagged as unsafe to operate. Without heat, a water pipe soon burst and flooded the basement. Other concerns included a leaking roof.

Unable to afford the repairs, Dorothy was forced to leave the house she owned and had lived in for 25 years.

Katie continued to work with Dorothy to explore her options with the costs of repairs and the option of moving. Dorothy felt strongly about wanting a rental home, rather than senior housing or other subsidized housing. She wanted her daughter to be safe and have a place where they could sit on the front porch and play their music without bothering neighbors. In early March, Dorothy found a property from a list Katie had researched.

Katie also partnered with Barbara Cahill, coordinator of Project CARE at MLM. Since Dorothy and her daughter were homeless because of the condition of their home, she was enrolled in the Project CARE program. Student intern Julie Moore served as Dorothy’s new case manager while Barbara worked diligently to secure the funds and communicate with the potential landlord. On March 12, the deposit was paid and Dorothy had a new home to call her own. She no longer has to worry about having heat or a safe place for her daughter to live.

It was a joy to watch Dorothy move from hopelessness to hope. This case is an example of the great teamwork at MLM and successful outcomes when various programs, students, and volunteers work together for the well-being of a client.