At Arlington Thrive, our interactions are often brief, leaving us with only fragments of a client’s story. When Sylvia approached Arlington Thrive for rental assistance, our Community Resilience Fund had already been used to help others across Arlington and was already running low for the month. With nearly 10% of Arlington’s senior population living in poverty, Sylvia’s struggles are far too common amongst our neighbors. As Sylvia continued to share her story, we learned she was a senior citizen, battling cancer, going through rounds of chemotherapy and surgeries that made it difficult for her to continue working, impacting her income and capacity to pay rent. The lengthy approval process for disability payments left Sylvia in limbo, and still $440 short.
Our team at Arlington Thrive realized there was more that could be done to ensure Sylvia had a safe and secure home while facing one of the most difficult health challenges of her life. We dug deep and identified funds could be used to support her needs. Then, we worked with Sylvia to submit all of her documents, complete the application, and approve her request for assistance. Because of this support, Sylvia was able to work with her landlord, and a check was mailed out the very next day. A mere $440 in support from Arlington Thrive helped relieve major stress for an elderly neighbor who is very ill and working so hard to manage everything in their life.
Today, Sylvia is safe in her home, continuing her journey back to health. We are grateful for Sylvia’s trust in Arlington Thrive, and for the donors who have made it possible to serve our Arlington neighbors for the last 50 years. With your continued support, we look forward to helping many more hardworking neighbors like Sylvia in the years to come—ensuring that a major illness or life event doesn’t lead to destitution or homelessness.
Want to help neighbors like Sylvia all year long? Join The Flight Crew—our community of monthly donors who make stability possible, one gift at a time. Your recurring donation, no matter the size, ensures we can respond immediately when someone is facing eviction, hunger, or the threat of utility shut-off. With you in the Flight Crew, more stories can end in safety, dignity, and hope.
