Millions of Americans live on the brink of homelessness. An injury or illness, job loss, or other unexpected event is often more than most of us are prepared for. That’s what happened to Amy.
Amy and her husband were never wealthy, but they were making ends meet. Amy provided childcare out of her home and her husband, disabled from a fall, worked as much as possible. In early 2001, the couple took over an airport shuttle business and hoped it was a path to more income and a better life for their two sons. Then 9/11 happened and airport travel came to a near standstill. Shortly after, their landlord raised the rent, purposefully pricing them out of their home to avenge a court battle he lost for failing to properly maintain the property.
The family moved in with Amy’s mother and stepfather for a time, but her mother soon got divorced and had to move herself. With a lengthy freeze on Section 8 housing, the family soon found themselves homeless. Not wanting to be separated, the foursome spent time at a hotel followed by a family shelter. It was during their stay at the shelter that Amy was referred to the Family Health Center in Worcester, where the family received primary health care and assistance with medications and other support through the Health Care for the Homeless project.
“People still have this view of those who are homeless as being lazy, or not wanting to work,” states Amy. “We had lives before we became homeless. We didn’t choose homelessness. My family survived because of programs such as the homeless families program at Family Health Center.”
In late 2003, the family finally moved into an apartment and Amy decided she wanted to help others experiencing homelessness. She began volunteering at the Family Health Center and eventually joined the staff. Amy was soon encouraged to get even more involved and share her story. She attended the National Health Care for the Homeless Council’s annual conference where she was greeted by members of the National Consumer Advisory Board. She’s been involved with the Council ever since, having served as chair of NCAB, three terms as secretary of the board of directors, and president of the board. In fact, Amy was the first person with lived experience to serve as board president.
“It says a lot about the Council and their commitment to elevating the voice of consumers,” says Amy. “Being homeless changed the direction of my life in a positive way, and that’s because of the Council. They embraced me. They are my family. I don’t know what my life would be without the Council.”
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