Shrita

In times of crisis, anxiety runs high. “I felt so stressed, I could barely breathe,” remembers Shrita. She was behind on the rent and electric bill for her Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority apartment where she recently moved with two teenage sons – one of them nonverbal due to autism.

“Our previous AMHA apartment was under construction, and we had to move suddenly. School was just starting, and I had all those expenses, too. Everything was in an uproar!” Shrita received letters saying her lease would be terminated. She went online, started searching for rent assistance and discovered Catholic Charities’ Emergency Assistance program.

“I was really scared that we would be homeless. But after I spoke to Diana at Catholic Charities, she got all my information and reached out to AMHA. My overdue rent and electric bill got paid right away. I could breathe! I felt so at peace.”

Shrita recently had to leave her job as a home health aide to focus on caring for her son with autism. “Whenever he had a meltdown or got sick, I couldn’t work. I don’t have a support system, so I really needed the help from Catholic Charities. They even gave me book bags for both boys, full of school supplies! And they were quick and efficient, paying my rent directly to the property manager within days. Their emergency assistance is a blessing to moms or dads in a time of crisis.”