“I have always considered myself a creative type of person, very good with people and highly adaptable–a survivor,” said 65-year- old Queens resident Rochelle K., known to her friends and family as “Shelli.”

Over the course of her lifetime, Shelli has worked at a variety of jobs, including career counseling. “I have always been able to make ends meet,” she said.

But when Shelli incurred some high medical and other expenses, she couldn’t manage on her small social security income.

“I have lived in a nice apartment in Queens for many years and my rent is only $623 per month,” Shelli said. “But when I was hit with these unexpected expenses, I fell three months in arrears and the landlord started eviction proceedings.”

Then a friend referred her to The Bridge Fund.

The Bridge Fund took immediate steps to help Shelli, including providing a grant for $1878 to bring her rent up-to-date. The fund also did budget counseling with Shelli and helped her to develop basic money management skills, including prioritizing and tracking her monthly expenses.

Next, The Bridge Fund referred Shelli to an agency for discounted food, helped her apply for HEAP to pay utilities, and for Lifeline, a phone service for low-income individuals. She is also receiving food stamps. Shelli said, “I have started to look for part-time work again and feel confident that I will find something.”

She added, “The Bridge Fund did not make me feel that I had done something wrong to end up in my predicament. They simply started to help me out of it. And they worked fast. Being able to stay in my apartment means so much to me. I have lived here for 25 years and it is truly home.”