Healing Through Home
Tammy, 63, lives with a progressive disability that affects her mobility and may cause sudden symptoms.
But she knows she’s never alone. She relies on staff at Rose House, one of VOA-GNY’s permanent supportive housing residences in Manhattan, to help her—whether it’s waiting for an ambulance or escorting her to the doctor.
“That’s more support than I got from my family,” she says.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, Tammy moved to North Carolina to be her mother’s full-time caretaker for 16 years. After her mother passed away in 2018, she returned to New York to live with her sister but didn’t expect what she found.
“[Her apartment] was just not really habitable,” she explains.
Two months after moving in, Tammy’s sister died. Eventually, Tammy was faced with an eviction notice and had to enter the shelter system, where she lived for about a year.
Sharon Crawford, program director at Rose House, helped Tammy secure an apartment at the residence, where she continues to provide support. “She’s a good sounding board and has great advice,” Tammy says about Sharon.
Tammy views her apartment as a blessing, a place she can decompress and recharge after socializing.
She has fostered a community with her neighbors, facilitating a monthly women’s social group where she like to share a home-cooked meal. Her favorite is a pot of chili.
“I found peace here that I didn’t find anywhere else,” she says. “I’m so thankful for that.”