Peer 1:
"One of my peers I started working with a few months back was struggling with an open Juvenile dependency case and homelessness.
She has been traumatized by many systems that were meant to help however has been doing the opposite. We started working on multiple person directed plans that she created. She was able to get her mental health services changed from the county mental health to western psychological. This was life changing, the connection she made with her new therapist was inspiring to witness as her whole attitude of life began to change. We started working on housing and was able to apply for the mainstream Voucher which she was approved. After receiving the voucher we had another great challenge, the COVID-19 virus was shutting down everything and we needed to get her approved into an apartment. She had applied for an apartment and was denied. However she did not come this far to give up.
We put in an appeal and got supporting documentation together and advocated to the complex and after a couple weeks of waiting, the call came in that their decision was overturned and she was approved. She is now waiting for the housing authority to do their inspection so she can get her keys!"
Peer 2:
"Another peer that I have been working with has been homeless for over two and a half years recovering from a broken neck and mental health in his car. We started working on multiple person directed plans that he created and navigating multiple systems. One of the person directed plans that he created was a plan to attain housing and get out of his vehicle so he could start the healing process, physically and emotionally. He applied for the mainstream voucher and he was approved. After he received his voucher last month, we began to look for an apartment home. He found one that he loved and applied.
He was approved and the housing authority is inspecting on the 8
th
even with the COVID-19 restrictions, he will receive his keys on the 9
th
and will be able to have a warm place to call home."
Peer 3:
"Another peer I have been working with has created multiple person directed plans and is navigating multiple systems including the Child welfare system. After a painful process through the appellate court her permanency was overturned on her son to go into permanent foster care and a new plan for reunification was ordered. One barrier to placement is housing. She created a person directed plan to attain housing and she applied for the Mainstream Voucher and was approved. However she still had some hurdles to get through. She applied at an apartment and was denied, so we started the appeal process and was unsuccessful. We started working on her credit to dispute things that was holding her back and through those efforts she was able to clear enough off her report to get approved into another housing complex. She is now waiting for the housing authority to do the inspection and will be moving in soon.
Once she is moved in she will begin the process of having overnight visits with her son and start working with an in home skill builder."
