GEORGE & WONDA'S STORY
Things weren’t always easy for George and Wanda, but they were in love and working hard to make ends meet. But suddenly, everything changed. Wonda’s health forced her to stop working just months before she would reach retirement age and become eligible for Social Security and retirement benefits. George was struggling to find work and between job searching he would collect empty pop cans from around the city to turn in for change. It wasn’t enough and they eventually lost their home and found themselves living in their car.
Every evening brought the same fear and uncertainty: Where could they safely park for the night? They worried that police would ask them to leave or tow away the car that had become their only shelter. Exhausted and unsure where to turn, they walked into United Way of Greater Lorain County and met with Cassandra Marr, United Way’s Continuum of Care Coordinator.
Cassandra quickly helped them secure placement in emergency shelter, but there was nowhere they could stay together. With little privacy, no space that felt like their own, and the added pain of being separated, George and Wonda struggled to rest and recover from the long days spent trying to rebuild their lives.
Still, they refused to give up. They returned each week to talk through next steps in how they could work their way back toward stability. Cassandra, through United Way’s UCAN Community Collaborative, provided emergency assistance funding for George and Wanda to secure permanent housing. UCAN also helped George prepare to enter the workforce, starting with a haircut and continuing through ongoing interview coaching, and guided Wonda through the process of accessing the Social Security and retirement benefits she had earned and for which she now qualified.
Without that support and genuine care, Wonda worries about where they might have ended up.
Today, George and Wonda are keeping up with their housing expenses on their own. Financial assistance opened the door to stable housing, while the resources and support system provided by United Way have helped ensure they remain safely inside their new home.
UNITED IS THE WAY TO MAKE SURE NOBODY FACES A CRISIS ALONE.
The United Community Assistance Network (UCAN), powered by United Way of Greater Lorain County, brings local organizations and non-profits together to help Greater Lorain County residents get through unexpected financial crisis. Rather than visiting multiple agencies and systems, those who are in need can connect with a coordinated network ready to identify resources, address immediate needs, and build a plan for what comes next. The Continuum of Care Coordinator helps individuals and families in the homeless response system access emergency shelters and connects them with long-term case management through UCAN.