GHCA Successes                       

A Couple Endures Cancer, Files Bankruptcy and were on the Brink of Homelessness An older couple had to undergo bankruptcy proceedings after the husband endured an aggressive cancer and couldn’t work while being treated for the disease.  The couple was referred to the local Community Action Agency because they were soon to be homeless.   The agency was able to pay the couple’s rent while the couple paid the utilities and bankruptcy bills with their Social Security income.  With time, the cancer had retreated, and with help from the Community Action Agency, the 72 year old man has been able to return to work.  Prospects are also hopeful for the sale of property involved in the bankruptcy.  The family is now self-sustaining and safely housed as a result of the Homeless Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program administered by Goldenrod Hills.   

Burt County Success Story
In March of 2011, an immigrant lost his job as an electrician. The family owned a small home in Burt County, and began falling behind in payment of bills because the wife’s income was not adequate to cover all the bills. The household of five was facing the loss of their home or living in a place without utilities. The Homeless Prevention and Rapid re-housing Program stepped in and assisted with utility expenses until the man was able to find a job and return to full-time work. The family is now back to paying all of the household expenses without any assistance.

Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program

Anne came in seeking financial assistance to prevent her from becoming homeless. She is single and lives alone. She has worked consistently the last four years for the same employer, but hours have been cut drastically and they do not carry health insurance for employees. She had to have emergency surgery and hospitalized (tooth abscess ) causing her to miss quite a bit of work. She ended up losing and replacing several teeth and was diagnosed as diabetic at the same time. It took several months for her health to be stabilized so she could return to work. She qualified for the Homeless Prevention and Rapid re-housing Program which helped her sustain her housing until she was able to return to work fulltime. She attended a group Rent Wise Class in Norfolk with Linda Kastning as Teacher. Goldenrod Hills helped her look for full time employment, resume writing, interview techniques, job search, etc. Anne is doing very well for herself now. She works fulltime at a new job that provides her consistent hours and medical benefits.

Single Father Becomes Self-Sufficient

Adam is a single parent due to spouse’s death. The client must attend to all the needs of his daughter before his own and constantly worried about making ends meet. He has been unemployed for quite sometime. He does have a back injury making some job options unavailable to him and creating more difficulty in finding work. His only income is from spousal Social Security from his late wife. He and his teenage daughter have health issues, one being depression. They both just started treatment. He was temporarily staying at his in-laws (not a positive environment and not an option for long term residence) so was close to being homeless. He was placed on the Homeless Prevention and Rapid re-housing Program and was helped with housing assistance. Adam just started working with Voc Rehab to help him become more employable and for job search guidance. I also went over with him the Workforce Development Web site and reviewed his resume and job search/interviewing techniques. He attended a group Rent Wise Class in Norfolk as Linda Kastning as Teacher. Adam is still in the same apartment we got him into over a year ago and is working fulltime, with medical benefits.. He and his daughter are responding well to treatment and she is doing very well in school.