Cynthia & Her Kids

Korina found herself and her three daughters Jessica, Jideha, and Naomi homeless and completely overwhelmed. They had fled sexual abuse and left their home with nothing but their backpacks and Korina’s savings. Many of the shelters had no openings but they kept looking. Korina was able to find available space at the women’s transitional living shelter, however; it was a temporary solution because they could only stay a limited number of days. The shelter tried to assist Korina and their family with housing but they were unsuccessful. So once again they were without a place to go. Korina was using the money she had to stay in motels. They were homeless for five months. During this time, Korina fainted in her hotel room and was rushed to the hospital. Before this incident, Korina believed her lack of energy and physical weakness were solely due to the stress of being homeless, but at the hospital Korina was diagnosed with Leukemia. Through this incredibly difficult time, Korina never lost faith and in fact it was the only thing she had to hold on to.

Jadhhea, who was 12 at the time, suffers from diabetes and mental illness, and due to the nature of their departure, she ran out of insulin. They took her to urgent care and Jaddhea was connected to CHOC. Once a clinical worker discovered that Jaddhea had no address, CHOC, connected Jaddhea and the family to the Illumination Health and Home’s Plumeria House. This is a Family Emergency home for families who have children with disabilities. When they first arrived at the house, Korina was skeptical because her prior experiences with other organizations didn’t lead to her family’s safety. However, Korina noticed that Citlalli, the house manager, and Lorena, the intake manager were welcoming. Korina was amazed when she was shown the house and her living space. The worry of where her daughters were going to sleep the next day or the next week was eliminated. The staff told Korina that she was able to stay as long as she needed. The first night her daughters and Korina slept like babies.

While residing at the Plumeria House, the staff helped Korina acquire medical insurance, transportation to medical appointments, as well as child care. Her family was able to utilize the services provided including in-home counseling, case management and housing navigation. They were amazed by the array of programs offered including tutoring services like her Private Professor, literacy groups, Mini Med School, and more. Naomi, her youngest daughter, benefitted from the services and the stability that the home offered, which led to her graduating her last grade with reading honors! Furthermore Jessica, her oldest, became employed and a manager at a local wireless service provider. Korina felt truly supported by the network that Illumination Health and Home provided. Illumination Health and Home hosted events that made Korina feel like she was a part of a community and Korina recalls how it was helpful, during their journey, to see other families on the road to self-sufficiency.

After spending five months at the Plumeria House working to stabilize her family and working with her Housing Navigator to find housing, they were able to secure an apartment. On May 19th, Korina was handed the keys to her home. In Korina’s words “It was a surreal feeling, even to this day, when we’re out and about we can finally say let’s go home”. They are extremely grateful. She says how Illumination Health and Home is different from any other homeless organization because they said they would help and they did! Now that they’re in a place of their own they can continue to heal in a home that’s safe and full of love.

Leileen was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 2. She learned to ride a bike in the hospital halls, and her first childhood friends were nurses and doctors working around the clock supporting her as she was in and out of countless rounds of chemotherapy. Leileen’s grandmother, Regina, never left her side even when Leileen’s mother found herself unable to support her. Regina was at every appointment she could make and by Leileen’s bedside for nearly 10 years. As soon as Leileen was in remission, Regina was able to take her back to her home in Anaheim. 

Tragedy struck grandmother and granddaughter again when Leileen was diagnosed with neurotoxicity from the immense toll chemotherapy took on her body. At the same time, Regina was suddenly removed from her home after a separation from her husband. However, Regina remained persistent and continued to work for Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) as a bus driver even through the pandemic. “I didn’t know where I was going or what I was going to do. It doesn’t matter if you have a job, when a crisis hits, it hits.” 

That’s when they found themselves in a motel, where Regina was scrambling for services to keep Leileen and herself afloat. Then a friend who worked in social services told her about Illumination Health and Home. After a couple of phone calls, Regina and Leileen had their motel costs covered and soon moved into Illumination Health and Home’s newest Family Emergency Shelter, Plumeria House in Anaheim. Plumeria House is designed specifically for children who have a chronic illness or a physical disability. 

Andrew Castillo, the Manager of Family Programs, weighs in “Our goal is to get families off the streets and into a safe place where they are able to work on their goals with their case manager and work towards finding permanent housing with a housing navigator.” Andrew was Regina and Leileen’s first point of contact when they moved into Plumeria House and reflects on what would have happened if this home was not an option for them. “Without Plumeria House, Regina and so many others like her would still be on the streets or living in motels.” 

Today, Regina and Leileen are still at Plumeria House and are on the journey to being housed. With the many services Illumination Health and Home offers, from financial literacy classes  to meeting with licensed therapists one-on-one, Illumination Health and Home’s goal is to support our clients and find sustainable solutions no matter their situation. This Holiday, there will be many families who are looking for support and hoping that 2022 will be the year they are able to turn their lives around. 

“I am so thankful for Illumination Health and Home because I had no idea where I was going,” Regina says, “I know that this is just my stepping stone.” 

Patricia first came to Illumination Health and Home with her mother, Brenda, and her one-year-old son, Jeremiah. Patricia was working full time when she lost her pension due to an error made by the VA, but her income alone was not enough to pay for the apartment, and they soon became homeless. After spending time in their car and motels, they found a place at Illumination Health and Home’s La Mesa Emergency Shelter and then were eventually transferred to Theriault House Family Emergency Shelter.

The entire time the family was in our shelters, Patricia worked hard at her job at UPS. Sometimes she would work 12–15-hour shifts, especially during the holidays. Jeremiah flourished while in our Children and Families Program. When he first came to our shelter, he wouldn’t leave his mother or grandmother’s side. Coming into our Parent and Me classes was a struggle. He would cry and scream for Grandma incessantly. When they arrived at Theriault House, Jeremiah was not speaking as much as he should have been for his age. Our staff utilized the Ages and Stages Questionnaire and found that he wasn’t meeting developmental milestones in three out of the five areas screened.

Jeremiah continued in our program and began to thrive. He is now talking in full sentences, happy to enter class to play with his friends and teachers, and he loves to sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,” among many other tunes. Upon the family’s exit from the shelter, Jeremiah was meeting developmental milestones in all the areas screened.

Patricia’s benefits from the VA were finally reinstated, and she is still working full time at UPS. The family recently moved out of Theriault House into their own apartment, and they are thrilled. Illumination Health and Home helped the family find their new apartment and continue to work with them to ensure their continued success.