When the Eaton Fire destroyed her home, Maya and her child were left with uncertainty and fear, but not without hope. Eligible for motel stays through Friends In Deed’s Rapid Rehousing and Pathways Program, Maya was determined to get back on her feet and into a permanent home.
Maya had a Section 8 voucher and a place lined up in San Dimas. The inspection was complete and approved, but when her HUD caseworker changed, the paperwork never made it to the property manager. On two separate occasions, the unit almost slipped through their fingers. With the property management team rapidly approaching a hard deadline to finalize the lease, it seemed like time was running out.
Christina, a Friends In Deed Housing Navigator, stepped in, advocating tirelessly for Maya. She got the deadline extended by a few days, moved the case to the top of her workload, and coordinated every possible step. Maya herself was proactive, doing everything on her end to make sure nothing was missed.
Monday came and went, and still no word from the HUD worker. By Wednesday, the final day, Christina asked Maya to go directly to the Section 8 office in person. Taking a vacation day from work, Maya was able to meet with a manager and get proof of the inspection emailed to the property manager just in time.
Thanks to perseverance, teamwork, and never giving up, Maya and her child finally moved into their new home in San Dimas, a fresh start after months of challenges and setbacks.