March 2025 Newsletter

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Rental Housing Dilemma

Sheila could afford the room rent on her part-time, minimum wage job. However, finding suitable housing on rather short notice proved impossible. She was not caught completely off guard. She had already applied for subsidized housing, but was still on the waiting list. Even though she remained partially employed, she would be homeless until receiving the housing voucher. Then, she will be able to move into a housing unit that was designed to be a permanent rental. That stability and affordability removes the rental housing dilemma.

In the meantime, Sheila needed emergency shelter. She went to our Samaritan Inn, a place where there is no housing predicament. There are available beds, no costs, and no evictions for those diligently working on independence. Her basic need of room and board was satisfied.

Transportation became her next challenge. Her job is in a smaller city outside of Roseburg. It was not a problem, when her rented room in that house was in the same city. Sheila has a learning disability that has made finding employment difficult and kept her from ever driving a vehicle. She got the job by just walking into a business with a resume in hand. She uses a bus, with limited access between cities, to get to and from work. It’s another dilemma between choosing the very long commute for work or enduring the search for another job that meets her needs. Again, the housing voucher will remove this dilemma, when she is able to live and work in the same town.

During the wait for permanent housing, Sheila has the support of Samaritan Inn, that includes encouragement and the strengthening of her faith. As a Christian, she appreciates our chapel messages. As an engaged woman, she said, “I like love stories out of the Bible with the theme of faith. In the Book of Esther story, I can relate to what she’s been through. It encourages and builds my faith in God.” Her fiancé is physically disabled and has applied for SSI. They will be a household with two limited incomes, but it will be enough to have reliable housing.