The Hinojosas found themselves homeless in 2016 after losing everything in a house fire. They survive on a fixed income from disability checks as Mario was disabled in a car accident, and Dee suffers from several health issues. Additionally, the two oldest children are diagnosed with Autism, relying on their parents for daily support.
Catholic Charities (CC) provided encouragement and guidance, nutritious meals, a safe place to rest at the Family Day Center, personalized mentorship at the Life Skills & Career Development Center (LSCDC), and the basics so Dee and Mario could focus on bigger goals. “I feel like they were our backbone of support,” Dee says. “Support that we couldn’t even get from family, we got from them. When we didn’t have access to laundry, the only way to switch up my kid’s clothes was to go to Catholic Charities’ Kidz Klozet and get clothes for them.” Dee and Mario spent nearly every day at LSCDC working towards their goals. Their hard work and perseverance, coupled with compassionate guidance from CC staff and volunteers paid off as Dee was able to obtain a Personal Care Worker certification so she could become a caretaker for her own children and planned to pick up extra work for other individuals with disabilities. The family found an affordable rental apartment that had enough bedrooms for the whole family, and CC moved them in right before Christmas, providing household goods, temporary mattresses until they could arrange for furniture, and even a Christmas Tree and stockings.
The kids are happily attending school and participating in extracurricular activities. Natasha is involved in a program that is helping her become more independent, while Mario is working towards rebuilding his tattoo career and expanding his entrepreneurial skills by making and selling walking sticks. Dee is happily taking care of the family in her own home while growing vegetables in her garden. Twelve months after moving into their apartment, life is looking fairly normal.
“Homelessness is a humbling experience,” Dee says. “I want to live the American Dream. I want a home. I want a car. I want my kids to be established in the community with friends, all that normal fun stuff. I want beautiful Saturdays out in the mountains with my family.”
