Guest Feature: Julie's Dream Apartment
To WLP––especially the staff, the volunteers she has interacted with, and our donors––Julie has this to say: “You saved my life. My options were shelters… and that’s it. I don’t think I would have had the strength to last three years without your help.”
In 2017, Julie was living rent-free with an old friend. She had a job scanning medical documents, but a health condition was depleting her income faster than she could earn it. The same condition had also dried up Julie’s savings, leaving her without a contingency plan. Months passed by, and tension grew between Julie and her friend.
Once their relationship soured, Julie had no one else to turn to. She left her friend’s house and spent the night on a bench in Copley Square. It was a first in what would become a three-year period of chronic homelessness.
When the weather became intolerable, Julie would check into a shelter. Like many of our guests, this is where she first learned about Women’s Lunch Place. “It’s a small community, the homeless community,” says Julie. “People talk. I remember hearing that you offer vegetarian and meat-based meals. That’s a big thing for some people!”
Julie quickly fell into a routine at WLP. She would arrive, have breakfast, take a shower, and read in the library until close. She’d then head to the overnight shelter, sleep, and repeat. We provided a welcome daytime refuge, as by this time, Julie’s medical condition had rendered her completely unable to work.
Looking back, Julie observes that when she first became homeless, “things that felt small–-things that you take for granted––became very big.”
High-quality meals, personal hygiene products and showers, laundry services, friendly volunteers in the Welcome Center––this was what motivated Julie to return to our community. Once trust was established it wasn’t long before she began working with an Advocate on her longer-term issues.
“I wasn’t receiving some of my benefits… and on the first day we had that fixed,” says Julie. “She was making phone calls that I didn’t feel comfortable making. When I didn’t have clothes, she’d bring me clothes––even a winter coat.”
At the onset of the pandemic, Julie was hospitalized with a bone infection after suffering a hard fall. Because she had already been working with WLP to secure housing, Julie was able to transition from the hospital to a safe, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) in a communal living situation. Once she had a space of her own, Julie’s health began to improve.
After a year in the SRO, with WLP assistance, Julie acquired a Section 8 voucher. We coordinated a housing search and found a one-bedroom rental in the West End.
Julie applied for the space right away, with WLP assisting on the paperwork and other logistical tasks. On June 1st of this year, she moved in. She remains ecstatic when talking about her new apartment.
“It has everything. It’s quiet, there’s a washer and dryer on every floor, utilities are included, and it’s near a public transportation hub,” says Julie, who continues to visit WLP weekly and work through intimidating bureaucratic issues.
Recently, she and her Advocate called the Social Security Administration together to ensure that Julie keeps receiving the disability benefits that are her only source of income; and while she no longer needs our shower and laundry services, Julie still enjoys a healthy WLP breakfast in our dining room whenever she visits.
To support our work and ensure that women like Julie always have a place to turn to for a warm community and expert guidance, make a donation today.