As Thanksgiving approaches, many of us are filled with anticipation for the warmth and togetherness this holiday brings. But for some, this holiday will pass with the cold and harsh realities of life without a home.
Families like Tony and Mary’s. They are ordinary people like you: hardworking parents who love their children. But their lives were turned upside down the day their home was taken away from them.
For their whole lives, Tony and Mary just wanted better, especially for their girls—but things in life kept pushing them down. Tony’s pool business went under; Mary’s health condition worsened, and the family struggled to find housing. At one point, they even slept under blankets on a large piece of plywood in the woods near their daughter’s school. Tony and Mary were wholly committed to their family and did whatever they had to do to stay together . . . but it was difficult.
Still, throughout it all, this family of four was each other’s support system. Their close-knit family gave them resilience through homelessness. They knew that if they stuck together, they would pull through and find a home. Mary always reminded her family to “keep the faith.”
The shortage of affordable housing in Florida is very real, and thousands of our neighbors have no choice but to sleep on the streets. Our waitlist continues to grow with people who need help every bit as much as Tony, Mary, and their two children.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but instead of looking forward to the holiday, many families face a holiday season on the streets. Like Tony and Mary, they’re doing the best they can to keep everyone together—but that’s hard to do when you don’t have a home of your own.
That’s why SVdP CARES advocates for “Housing First,” settling families in a safe home within 30 days and providing the means to stay there until they’re back on their feet.
This wrap-around support ensures our neighbors’ long-term success… making their homelessness rare, brief, and one-time. Your support will change the lives of hurting neighbors like Tony and Mary.
Their faith was rewarded when Tony and Mary finally connected with SVdP CARES.
Within hours, their family was placed into a hotel. Two weeks later, they were in a new two-bedroom apartment where they’ve been for two months now. Their case manager says:
“They are a close family that do everything together . . . They have never complained about their situation and were thankful for every step of the process. They have made a home here and they’re already part of the community!”
We thank St. Vincent de Paul CARES for being there for us and those who help support to them, we say continue to do what you can because there are people out there that need it…We just needed the chance to get back on our feet.
Give Families Something to be Thankful for This Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is right around the corner, but instead of looking forward to the holiday, many families face a holiday season on the streets. Like Tony and Mary, they’re doing the best they can to keep everyone together—but that’s hard to do when you don’t have a home of your own. Give more families something to be thankful for this giving season and beyond!