Like many retirees, Felesa lives on a limited Social Security income, leaving her vulnerable to unexpected expenses. Recently, ongoing medical expenses have sapped her ability to pay her rent – even at her affordable housing community.
“This is the first time this has ever happened to me,” she said. “Everything is so expensive, and I’m just trying to get over this hump.”
Felesa’s experience reflects a broader reality. An estimated 22% of U.S. adults over age 65 carry medical debt, much of it from routine care. Many say the debt has drained their savings and is impacting their credit scores.
Felesa, a cancer survivor, worried she would lose her home.
That’s when she learned about the Hope Through Housing Foundation’s emergency assistant program, which provides short-term aid to residents facing crises. Through the foundation, Felesa obtained a month of rental assistance – $1,058 – providing immediate relief and a moment to breathe.
“I hadn’t been able to get any assistance anywhere,” she said. “When Hope stepped in, I was elated. It gave me the push I needed to keep going and to keep my hopes up.”
Only a few years earlier, Felesa’s life looked very different.
In 2022, she sold her home in Indiana and moved to California to start a nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness. Shortly after arriving, she became critically ill, spending a month hospitalized with sepsis, pneumonia and a severe urinary tract infection. She found herself fighting for her health – while her finances unraveled.
“I used to have great credit,” Felesa said. “But just trying to survive changed everything.”
When rent in California became unmanageable, she moved into transitional housing and later relocated to Houston. In 2023, she returned to California after securing the apartment at Talmadge Village, where she has found stability and support.
Stories like Felesa’s show why the Hope Through Housing Foundation’s services for residents of affordable housing communities are so critical to putting hope in every home.
As 2025 winds down, please consider donating today. Your support can be the turning point in someone’s story – just like it was for Felesa.