Meet Rebecca

Rebecca, 64, is a vibrant woman known as “the basket lady,” selling custom-made gift baskets for all occasions. It was a lucrative business until 2019, when a severe allergic reaction to antibiotics left her unable to work. So, she moved in with her uncle, who helped her recover. The two became roommates living off her social security disability and his salary until December 2020, when COVID-19 hit the household.

In January 2021, Rebecca’s uncle passed away from pneumonia brought on by COVID-19. “I was devastated,” said Rebecca. Not only was Rebecca morning for her uncle, but she was also now burdened with the total cost of the household bills. Her social security disability wasn’t enough to cover the rent and household expenses. So, she called Metrocrest Services. Shalawn, her case manager, secured gas cards (to get to the Food Pantry), food for her cats, and worked with her landlord as she awaited support from Texas Rent Relief.

Shalawn didn’t just help her with her bills; she became a source of comfort and companionship for Rebecca. “When people go through a crisis, you don’t know what a helping hand can do. I’m a recovering alcoholic, and if it weren’t for the comfort and support Shalawn provided me, I would have started drinking again.”

Recently Rebecca began working with a Metrocrest Services employment coach to find a part-time at-home job to help her get back on her feet. Rebecca has also signed up for the Housing Choice Voucher program to find housing that better fits her fixed income. As Rebecca continues to navigate the loss of a loved one and live on her own, she knows, “if I need help, I can go up to Metrocrest Services, and whoever I talk to will listen to me and help me as much as I can.”