Dear SAHARA Family,
It’s been about a month since our lives have been turned upside down, and we are all trying very hard to adapt to this different way of living. Every day we are figuring out how to get food on the table, keep our income and our family’s home, stay healthy, care for those we love who are sick and try to stay strong for our family and community. These are not new responsibilities, but now we have to do it from a distance, often without even leaving our homes.
We may have orders to be socially distant, but the SAHARA family is close to you as always.
Our Board of Directors, professional staff members, and the vast network that is our support in Southern California are all focused entirely on helping you get what you need. Every day there is new information about how to pay rent, food resources, legal updates, communication tools available in English, SAHARA is translating these in Hindi, Urdu, and Gujarati so that you can make the right decisions for you and your family.
It’s such an uncertain time, and things are changing rapidly. I know it’s amazing any of us can wrap our minds around what must be done? How to do it? What will happen next? And what does it mean for our family’s future? SAHARA’s Mental Health Therapist will visit with you by phone. Call for an appointment, and she will help you think it through with a compassionate and non-judgmental ear.
To get help now, please call us. Our staff is up to date on resource news, connected, and professional - and can speak three or four languages. If we don’t have what you need, we’ll tell you where you will likely find help. Call 562-402-4132, and SAHARA receptionists will get you connected to the right person.
Safety for domestic violence survivors:
info@saharacares.org
Mental health support:
smalik@saharacares.org
Elder care advocacy and avoiding eviction:
bkazmi@saharacares.org
Public benefits:
Fshahid@saharacares.org
Citizenship:
tshaikh@saharacares.org
Our blessings go out to each of you. SAHARA will support you in every way we can. Be well, be safe, be healthy and know that you are valued and appreciated.
With Gratitude,
Marilyn Neece
Executive Director, SAHARA