Ashley’s Story of Hope During COVID-19
With the onset of the pandemic, like many, Ashley, a single mother of three, found herself suddenly without an income. Here’s how she found hope.
Over the last year, Ashley Mehr, a single mother of three, finally felt she and her children were finding stability after years of not having a place of their own to call home.
In 2019, she completed her Associate of Arts degree in business administration while pregnant with her youngest child. By August, she was able to move into a subsidized apartment in Huntington Beach with her three children (all aged under 15), before securing a job as an administrative assistant with a local nonprofit in October.
But then, three months ago, Ashley received the bad news. She was furloughed from her job due to the health crisis and was initially rejected for unemployment assistance. She was suddenly without an income and had to find a way to buy food and pay for rent and utilities. “Honestly, I didn’t have enough money for diapers and food,” she told The Orange County Register. (Find the PDF version here.)
Ashley’s story is, unfortunately, not unique. The economic effects of the pandemic have led to many losing their jobs or having their work hours significantly reduced. For vulnerable families in Orange County, this affects their ability to pay rent and utilities or acquire food and other basic needs, placing them at risk of homelessness.
“There are many families struggling to meet ends right now, due to job loss or temporary layoffs,” said Susan B.Parks, President and CEO of Orange County United Way.
Orange County United Way launched the OC Family to Family Campaign as part of our Pandemic Relief Fund to specifically help families at risk of homelessness due to the ongoing health crisis. Donations to this campaign are immediately put toward a $500 emergency debit card and given to a family needing help with rent, utilities, food, and other basic needs during the pandemic.
Though $500 may not seem like much, for Ashley, it meant hope.
“I felt so relieved and grateful when I received the money [from United Way],” she said. “It gave me hope that we’ll get through these hard times, and it reminds me I’m not alone.”
You can help a family like Ashley’s by donating to the OC Family to Family Campaign!
This Post Has 6 Comments
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I’m homeless with my 2 year old beagal Male and have know where to go. I need a place right away been since 2017 of Nov. Because my mate wasn’t paying rent when I thought he was and wind up on the streets. I have left him to much abuse I couldn’t take it any more. Pls help I am 60 years old and dont have very many friends. Help me!
Hi Barbara, Thank you for writing to us. We are sorry to hear about your situation. In order to offer the best resources to assist you, please call/email 2-1-1 OC. They will ask you questions to learn more about your specific situation so you can get the right resources.
Phone number: Dial 2-1-1
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.211oc.org/get-help.html
I did not receive a Covid 19 stimulus,,, I have been struggling ever since to pay my rent. But now I am faced with huge car problems that will cause a shortage on my rent for August 2020.
Can you help me find entities that will help me one time for the August rent.
Thank you
Maria Oaxaca
Hi Maria, Thank you for writing to us. We are sorry to hear about your situation. In order to offer the best resources to assist you, please call/email 2-1-1 OC. They will ask you questions to learn more about your specific situation so you can get the right resources.
Phone number: Dial 2-1-1
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.211oc.org/get-help.html
My children and I are currently homeless no money for motel and no car to sleep in outside.& literally on the streets please help it’s very cold out here for these babies and myself. I was denied voucher from human assistance office because it hasn’t been a full year since I last recieved their help for a motel voucher . This has been frustrating trying to get my children and I out of these cold streets and I don’t have anyone please help us.
Hi Tamika, Thank you for writing to us. We are sorry to hear about your family’s situation. In order to offer the best resources to assist you, please call/email 2-1-1 OC. They will ask you questions to learn more about your specific situation so you can get the right resources.
Phone number: Dial 2-1-1
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.211oc.org/get-help.html