When Patricia came to On Lok 30th Street Senior Center asking for help, she had many reasons to feel hopeless.

She had moved from Argentina to the United States to live with her daughter and help raise her grandson, but the future she had envisioned was shattered by difficult family relations, and her daughter's decision to move into a new place without her. With no steady income or housing, Patricia was already fighting to survive on her own when she was diagnosed with cancer. "It was a moment of despair for me," she said.

Facing eviction, Patricia found her way to Orlando Sanchez, Senior Center Program Manager at On Lok 30th Street Senior Center, and his Social Services team. "Here was an immigrant, monolingual, a senior, without family support and stable housing," Orlando said. The team mobilized partners and all available programs into action.

The Case Management program accepted Patricia as an emergency client and Orlando helped her apply for Supplemental Security Income. Case Management also connected her to legal services, and they negotiated an agreement with her landlord to keep her off the streets until more permanent housing could be found. She was also referred to a caregiver who is still helping her stay independent.

More recently, Orlando was able to find her a rent subsidy through Catholic Charities, and Patricia is now safely settled in a studio apartment with her dog, Vanilla. Orlando has engaged all resources at his disposal to make sure she will be able to pay her bills and access "the assistance she needs to never find herself in such a difficult situation again," he said.

The journey through illness and adversity has empowered Patricia's self-growth: "Life is a learning process, and even horrible experiences can have a positive aspect," she said. "Today I live without worry and my number one concern is peace of mind for myself and my family. I am creating my future."

Patricia misses her grandson and hopes to be a part of his life again someday: "I didn't have anything and then, I had everything. It may sound cliché, but you can always start again. My story helps to show that it doesn't matter how old you are. You can overcome any situation if you decide not to give up- and ask for help when you need it."