The Door to Hope
When Cherie arrived in Georgia, she was determined to give her family a safer and more peaceful life. After losing her husband to violence in Philadelphia, she relocated to Lawrenceville with her disabled father, her adult daughter, and five grandchildren. As a full-time CNA, she worked hard to create a sense of normalcy and found what she believed to be the perfect rental home for her family.
Her new beginning quickly turned into another hardship when she discovered that the person she had been paying rent to did not actually own the property. Within days, the sheriff arrived to evict the family. With nowhere else to go, Cherie and her loved ones moved into a hotel, making two small rooms their home. Over the next several months, they cycled through different motels, doing their best to find safe and affordable shelter while trying to save money for a permanent home.
During this time, Cherie reached out to the St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Lawrence for help. Her caseworker, Pam, encouraged her to apply for St. Vincent de Paul Georgia’s Motel to Home program. Once accepted, she began working with the program team to rebuild her financial stability. Through financial literacy training, she learned how to improve her credit score and align her spending with her income. Her hard work paid off when she was approved for a lease in Duluth. “She worked so hard,” said Heidi Eveleigh, Program Manager of Motel to Home. “I have never encountered a neighbor more determined to secure housing. I was so happy and proud for this family to finally have some stability in their lives.”
The program provided assistance for her first month’s rent, while her local Conference helped furnish her new apartment and supplied essential household items to make it feel like home. Not long after, Cherie faced another challenge when a serious back injury made it impossible for her to work. With her income temporarily lost and her disability benefits still pending, she fell behind on rent and received an eviction notice. Once again, she turned to Pam for help. Pam contacted the court to request more time, and the judge granted a short extension. Just when things seemed most uncertain, Cherie received her long-awaited tax refund, which arrived in time to pay her rent and prevent eviction.
Today, Cherie has nearly recovered from her injury and continues to work toward long-term stability. Her journey is a powerful reminder that even through hardship, faith and perseverance can open the door to hope and lasting change.
