The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Story highlights needs of those living down and out

I want to thank you for the March 29 article "Safety Net." It was great to read about an organization such as Cupertino Community Services.

Like Gary Bouchard, who has received their services, I too am receiving similar services from the Emergency Housing Consortium. My daughters and I are living in a transitional housing program at Sobrato Family Living Center in Santa Clara.

Three years ago I was laid off from my job, where I had worked for 13 years. I was unemployed for close to a year; my severance package ran out; my savings ran out, and I was close to the end of my unemployment. My daughters and I had to share a room at a family member's house because I was broke and unemployed.

I finally found a job, but
didn't make anywhere near what I was making before. But being a single mom with no other means of support, I couldn't be picky about a job. But even working a full-time job, I still didn't make enough to afford a place to live. Plus the bills piled up from when I was unemployed, and the creditors were on my back. I found out about the Sobrato Family Living Center by doing a web search and got my name on the waiting list. My daughters and I have been there since August 2005, and we are loving it.

I am grateful there are places such as Cupertino Community Services and Emergency Housing Consortium where families like mine can find an affordable, safe place to live and raise our children. It's very important that every community have housing programs like CCS and EHC. There are a lot of people like me that work a full-time job yet cannot afford housing and we are forced to live on the streets, sleep in our car or bounce from shelter to shelter simply because the cost of rents are too high.

April Corrigan

Santa Clara