Doris came to Good Sam in a panic. After receiving an eviction notice, she had attempted to get help from many organizations, but continued to encounter barriers to assistance.
“It was almost like I needed to be worse off to get help. Since I still had my home, I wasn’t “homeless,” so a lot of places told me they couldn’t help me even though I was going to get evicted if I didn’t get help. I got lucky when I found Good Sam.”
At Good Sam, we’re blessed to be able to respond compassionately to homelessness and poverty through a unique and personalized approach. This includes providing emergency housing for someone experiencing street homelessness, to eviction prevention for people like Doris, and everything in between.
Over the past 11 months, Doris has made strides in her journey to stability with help from Good Sam. For the first time in her life, she had someone teach her about budgeting and worked with Good Sam and our partners at Tenfold to create her own. Doris was also thrilled to be hired as a school bus aid after a long search for a job.
“You got to work for what you want, and Good Sam’s willing to help. That’s the thing, they go out on a limb to help people. I saw that with me. The stuff they did to help…I wouldn’t be here without Good Sam,” Doris says gesturing gratefully around her mobile home’s living room.
Doris also finds emotional support in her four-legged best friend, Cocoa. The seven-year-old rescue dog has offered Doris unconditional love and support during difficult times, so when Doris was told Cocoa was in need of veterinary care that she could not afford on her own, she was devastated. She started a GoFundMe page hoping to raise money towards the vet bills. After seeing Doris’ GoFundMe page shared on Good Sam’s social media, a Good Sam supporter who connected with her story graciously donated the remaining amount needed for Cocoa’s care. Doris was amazed and overjoyed!
“It’s not a coincidence, it’s a miracle. It has to be God,” Doris said about experiencing such kindness from a stranger.
Doris can see her own growth since connecting with Good Sam. Now when hurdles arise, she feels more confident about facing those obstacles and overcoming them. Doris’ home is surrounded by a beautiful blooming garden and inside, photos of grandchildren fill her living room wall while Cocoa plays with toys at her feet. She can’t imagine leaving this place that she calls home, and she’s so thankful to Good Sam for helping her keep it.
“I do see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I didn’t before. I met a lot of angels through Good Sam,” Doris said.
