Sixty-one-year-old Lenore is reconnecting with her hobbies after living in New York City shelters for years. She enjoys writing poetry and staying active with fitness classes like Tai Chi and Zumba. She’s found stability at VOA-GNY’s East 12th Street Residence, a permanent supportive housing program for older adults, many of whom have experienced homelessness.
“I’ve been in the shelter system too long,” she says. “I came here, and I loved it.”
Born in New York, Lenore moved to Pennsylvania at the age of 8 where she lived until a few years ago. She was evicted from her condemned apartment and came back to the city. Throughout the years, Lenore has struggled with managing her mental health diagnoses and has lost contact with her family. She lived in five shelters before securing permanent housing.
“I learned I’m resilient,” Lenore says. “No matter how many times I go down, I just keep getting back up.”
Now that she has a stable place to live, Lenore has taken a proactive approach to her overall health. VOA-GNY staff are supportive and able to connect her to resources in the community. With guidance from her case manager, she’s received consistent counseling and established care with a nearby doctor.
“Coming from the shelter all the way to just living independently, she’s doing much better for herself,” Imelda Escarfuller, the program’s senior case manager, says.
Lenore enjoys cooking and is an active participant at the senior center in the same building.
“I’m grateful for a chance, for a place like this,” she says. “I am very grateful to VOA.”