Client Story: Melinda

Melinda applied for Jesse Tree assistance after exploring all other options.

She had been living in an apartment with her adult son. Between the pair, they were able to live frugally, but on a fixed income. 

Melinda is also experiencing significant health barriers; recent emergency hospitalizations, and cancer treatments that have made it difficult to live alone. During a check-in call from a case manager, Melinda reported that she was  actively in the emergency room awaiting treatment. 

Once Melinda's son was unable to work, the situation went from bad to worse. With only her income, she quickly fell behind on rent. 

The above image shows the word “resilience” spelled in Scrabble letters. This word is indicative of many of those Jesse Tree serves, and their dedication to building houding stability.

By the time Melinda connected with her Jesse Tree case manager, she was already in the process of accessing other community resources, including working with a community health worker at a local hospital and assistance from a community foundation. While Melinda was waiting on additional resources to pay rent, her landlord filed for eviction. Jesse Tree worked quickly, sending a promissory note. This allowed Melinda to have the case dismissed before court, but over $600 in legal fees were added to Melinda’s ledger; this is a significant barrier given her fixed income. 

To complement the other resources Melinda accessed, Jesse Tree is making a payment to cover past rent, late fees, and legal fees. Her property manager has also allowed her to make up past due payments on a payment plan, allowing Melinda to focus on health and recovery in safe, stable housing.