Delaware reported its first positive case of COVID-19 on March 11, 2020. On March 13, Governor Carney closed schools for two weeks to prepare for the potential spread of the virus. Restaurants, bars, and taverns were closed for dine-in services on March 16. Then, on March 22, the severity of the situation became more real when the governor issued a stay-at-home order for March 24 through at least May 15. While that challenged all of us, consider how much harder that was if you did not have a home.

For David, who already had been homeless, COVID-19 made finding work and a safe place to stay even more difficult. Fortunately, David’s social worker, Anita, recommended LCS to him. We offer emergency financial assistance to those trying to get their feet back under them. By covering the security deposit, LCS helped David find an apartment.

“He really deserves this,” Anita said in a follow up. “He’s been looking and working so hard to get going. We can’t thank you enough.” Our vision at LCS is to see people move from emergency to empowerment. Having a safe place to live is one step in that journey.

Even for those who had a home, COVID-19 threatened the ability to remain there. Stella lost her job due to COVID-19 and got behind on rent. She found some temporary work while waiting for a job with Christiana Care. Falling further behind, she went to her supervisor, who suggested three places to call for help. They all turned her down.  

Stella wrote, “She later gave me the number to LCS, and I called, expecting to be let down again. Unsure of how I would meet my rent, I was overtaken by the thought of being thrown out of my apartment with nowhere to go. Surprisingly, when Mrs. Jean Washington answered the phone and she heard and understood my situation, she took my fear away and assured me that everything would be all right. She actually made me feel like family and got me the help I needed, six months of rent. Who would have thought?”

Stella will recommend LCS to others in similar situations. She reports, “I am very grateful to LCS and their donors! I finally got hired by Christiana Hospital full time, and life is so much better.”

Stories like these motivate us to keep doing what we do at LCS!