The couple pictured are Project Independence clients in their 50s who have come a long, long way in the past year.
They were referred to Catholic Charities of Long Island last December by the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. At that point, the couple had been living on the streets for more than three years. They slept in doorways, storefronts and malls before a LICH outreach team persuaded them to seek shelter.
With that important first step, CCLI’s Project Independence program stepped forward. A suitable apartment was located in Long Beach and a move-in date of December 23 was arranged. On the appointed day, however, a severe storm flooded local streets and the National Guard was summoned for assistance.
The weather setback didn’t deter their housing manager, Linda, who worked diligently to finalize necessary arrangements and secure their Christmas homecoming.
Since then, they have successfully transformed their apartment into a home. Linda, working on behalf of Project Independence, ensured their comfort by supplying basic needs such as food, kitchen gadgets, furniture and linens.
A turkey with all the trimmings was recently delivered, and the couple looks forward to sharing a Thanksgiving feast in the safety and security of their home. It’s clear that there’s no place like it!
They are very grateful for our help, and we at Catholic Charities of Long Island are again blessed to be able to live out the Gospel through the work we do.