For Shannon, the past year has been marked by grief, illness, job loss, and housing instability. First, her cousin passed away, leaving her without any family in the Charlotte area. Then she contracted coronavirus, experiencing symptoms that she “wouldn’t wish on her worst enemy.” The pandemic also caused her to lose her sales job at a car dealership when business slowed down.
She applied for and received unemployment benefits, which kept her afloat for several months, but when the weekly $600 additional federal compensation ended in July, Shannon was left with less than $300 a week in state unemployment benefits.
Amidst all this loss, people like you gave Shannon hope. When she came to Crisis Assistance Ministry to prevent losing her electricity, support from donors facilitated a payment directly to Duke Energy.
Shannon is actively looking for work and has a couple of good leads. She is also thankful for her health and her home and the generous community members like you who have come to her aid in times of need. “It’s that whole concept of paying it forward,” she says.
While 2020 has been hard for lots of people, the compounding impact of the pandemic will make homelessness an unimaginable reality for many in 2021.
Your tax-deductible gift gives hope to families around you who are doing their best to survive and rebuild.
Give the gift of home for neighbors like Shannon by making a donation today.
