Success Stories - Sacramento Self Help Housing

Lisbeth and Jacob

Lisbeth and her son Jacob are just one of the 108 families we housed in 2021 - One of the families SSHH helped transition to a life of permanent, safe, and sustainable housing. This mother gave us permission to share their story.

Lisbeth’s journey off the streets starts from a young age. As a child, she was abandoned by her family and sexually assaulted by a care provider. This led to trauma, and years of being human trafficked and abused. She moved all over the continental United States, homeless, unable to break the cycle.

“Before moving to Sacramento, I was in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Seattle running from my abuser. I was constantly running. I was stuck.”

Her son Jacob, pictured above, is her rock and motivation to live a better life. At 3 years old, Jacob stood up to his biological father when abusing his mother. “When I saw my son stand up to his father, I knew I had to decide whether or not I wanted to give my child a better life. I decided to call the police on my abuse for the first time. My son deserved the best that I could give him. And that was not the life we were currently living.”

From that point on Lisbeth accepted the new and uncomfortable feeling of pursuing a healthy life for her and her family. “I ran, but this time I left the unhealthy relationships and habits behind.” Lisbeth tried to take advantage of every resource out there, even if it came with the embarrassment of telling her story.

In August 2021, Lisbeth connected to a three-week paid motel shelter program. She moved into a motel right next door to a church active in Elk Grove HART. On a whim, she went into the church to look for a community. Luckily, she ran into the Elk Grove HART president Debbie, who immediately connected Lisbeth to SSHH’s Elk Grove Homeless Outreach Navigator.
Becky and Debbie collected donations and helped furnish the new apartment. Lisbeth and Jacob were finally home. On their way to drop off the donations, Jacob turned to Becky as they pulled into their new apartment, “Thank you, Miss Becky, that’s my house! Do you want a tour?” This was the first time Lisbeth ever heard Jacob say thank you.

At 34 years old Lisbeth signed the lease on her very first apartment. “I finally had a place I didn't need to fight, a place where I could be safe and start a new healthy life for my family.”

Tammy

Welcome home, Tammy! On Marth 31st, 2022 Tammy signed the lease to her new apartment. That will be the first night in 10 years she has a place to call her own. Tammy is a proud "graduate" of our Permanent Supportive Housing program.

"Never give up" is her mantra.

Martha

Martha is 73 years young. After 6 years in our PSH program, she’s moving into a place that she can call her own.

She’s most excited to move close to all her friends!

Congrats on your hard work Martha.

SSHH's Permanent Support Housing (PSH) program is dedicated to providing permanent housing and intensive case management to chronically homeless and disabled unhoused members of the Sacramento Community. Learn more about PSH. PSH case managers help program participants like Martha to gain a source of income and access other mainline services. In Martha's case, her awesome case manager helped her find her own apartment thanks to last year's Emergency Housing Voucher Program, through Sacramento County.

You can sustain the incredible work of our PSH program by becoming a sustained giver. With a donation of $100 per month ($1,200), you are helping to pay 1/4th of the salary of one of our case managers. Learn more about the GEM (Give Every Month) program.

Erin and her family

Erin and her family are now reunited. Living under the same roof, off the street. "I wouldn't be where I am today without SSHH and HART."

Erin was one of the first residents of Charlotte House, SSHH, and Carmichael HART's transitional house for women.

SSHH and HART are changing lives in our community.

Erin is one of 150+ individuals and families that SSHH assisted in transitioning to a life of stable housing last year. Learn more about SSHH's Interim House Program.

Donations to support SSHH's GEM (Give Every Month: support this effort.) With a donation of $25 per month ($300), you can pay the monthly electricity bill for someone like Erin for an entire year. Become a GEM.

Ms. Smith is back home!

SSHH met Anne at the Salvation Army Shelter in 2019. Anne was wrongly discharged from the hospital after a medical emergency and became homeless.

For the first time in her life, she was unable to meet her basic needs. Anne had no food, no job, no place to live, and little hope she would get back to her life that once was. This was new territory for her. For 40+ years Anne raised a family, held full-time employment, paid rent on time, and even volunteered in her community of Folsom, where she was a 2nd generation resident.

Anne worked with an SSHH housing counselor, as part of the Sacramento County funded Pathways program. The purpose of the funding is to rapidly mobilize resources to help newly unhoused people in Sacramento achieve permanent housing. Luckily, this was exactly what happened with Anne.

After 4 months of assessing rental applications, visiting apartments, and weighing her options, Anne secured a rental apartment near the Folsom City Zoo. Down the street from the location she lived a decade ago.

“The biggest hurdle for me was finding a place that would accept my housing choice voucher.”

Anne thanks SSHH’s housing counselor Nancy for making the difference. “Nancy encouraged me to keep a positive attitude. She gave me clear instructions on how to apply for housing within my needs and limitations and ended up being a major game changer.”

With a new place to live and her life back on track, Anne is looking forward to volunteering in her community. She’s looking at part time and volunteer positions at the Folsom City Zoo.

Alice

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 went into effect on March 11th, 2021. It provided 1.9 trillion dollars in funding to curb the impact of COVID-19 and the associated economic recession. 5 billion went to 70,000 Emergency Housing Vouchers nationwide. 494 of which came to Sacramento and were distributed between nonprofit partners like Sacramento Self-Help Housing. Luckily, the emergency vouchers went to support well-qualified program participants of SSHH’s Permanent Supportive Housing Program (PSH). Participants like Alice.

Alice was homeless for 3 years before moving into PSH. As a general model, Permanent Supportive Housing is an intervention that combines affordable housing assistance with voluntary support services to address the needs of the chronically unhoused. In Sacramento, SSHH’s PSH program is funded through The Department of Housing and Urban Development and is only one of the many resources available to the unhoused.

“Alice is the best resident I’ve ever had. She helped me around the house and was never a problem.” Says PSH House Leader Sapphire. Sapphire’s incredible story can be read here!

When SSHH got wind of the EHV’s given to PSH, Alice was an obvious choice to move on to independent living. Alice and her partner Carlos have lived in SSHH’s program for almost a year. She is recovering from a stroke and other health-related issues which, ultimately, caused her homelessness. When she found out about the voucher, Alice immediately started looking for housing. When her case manager arrived for their weekly meeting, Alice presented a list of potential apartments within her qualifications and price range. “I’m ready to have my own place!”

Mind you, PSH case managers look to curb the impact of, oftentimes, years of homelessness and physical and mental health deterioration from living on the street. The presenting of the list and the excitement to move into her own place, was a sign of good things to come - that Alice was ready to move out of PSH.

Alice is set to move into her own apartment at the end of October. Though nervous to live on her own, she’s ready to take the next step.

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