“It was a long road, but it’s looking better each day.”
Jorge and his mother, Abby, were living a comfortable life until COVID struck. His employer closed down his business, leaving Jorge unemployed with limited savings. When his mother had a stroke, he didn’t know what to do next. He moved their belongings to storage and began living in his car. When his mother was released from the hospital, they moved to a motel until funds began running low, then back to his car. At one point he was unable to make his car payment and the thought of losing his vehicle took on a whole new meaning now that it served as their home. With so much uncertainty, Abby asked him to go to Catholic Charities for help.
Jorge visited the Hanifen Employment Center daily, using the computer lab for employment resources and working with his case manager. He was offered a great job, but where would his mother stay while he was working a 12-hour shift? She could not drive. She could not be left alone. He could not leave her in the parking lot of a distribution warehouse. He could not take the job and was devastated but kept holding on to the words of his case manager, “Don’t give up. Keep fighting.”
When a friend invited Jorge and his mother to stay with her, Jorge began to find hope. He refocused on his job search and continued working with his case manager. He found a new job, began saving money, and started his search for a new place to live. Jorge was ready to get his life back. As for his mom, having a safe place to stay and not worrying about finances for a brief time helped her heal.
With the resources he found at Catholic Charities and the generous help from his friend, Jorge and his mother are finally in their own place again. He loves his new job, and his new employer is so impressed with his work ethic that he has already been promoted. He is thankful the team at Catholic Charities never stopped believing in him.
At Catholic Charities, we respect everyone who comes to us for help. Many are working toward a fresh start in life. So while their stories are true, client names and images may have changed to protect their privacy.
