When a family is experiencing homelessness, each day becomes a matter of survival — finding a safe place to sleep, figuring out the next meal, and trying to hold everything together while the future feels uncertain. For Melissa, her husband, and their young daughter, that uncertainty lasted for years.
“Before connecting with Catholic Charities, my family and I were homeless on and off for a few years,” Melissa shared. “Most of our income went toward paying for hotels and buying food from restaurants just so we could get through each day. It was extremely stressful and exhausting, and it felt impossible to get ahead when we were only focused on finding a safe place to sleep each night.”
Trying to provide stability for a child while living day-to-day placed an enormous strain on the family — emotionally, financially, and physically. That cycle began to change when a referral led them to Catholic Charities’ Emergency Shelter in Flagstaff.
Finding Safety and Stability
After completing the intake and approval process, Melissa, her husband, and their daughter were accepted into the Emergency Family Shelter program. For the first time in a long time, they had stability.
“They provided us with a safe, free place to stay for three months — a one-bedroom unit with access to a shared community kitchen,” Melissa said. “For the first time in a long time, we had stability. We were able to store food, cook real meals, and focus on our health instead of just survival.”
Having a consistent place to live allowed the family to begin rebuilding routines — preparing meals together, resting without fear of displacement, and focusing on their daughter’s well-being.
Just as important as the housing was the support they received from Catholic Charities staff.
“During our stay, our caseworker Kelcy checked in with us weekly and truly went above and beyond. She genuinely cared about our family and our situation,” Melissa shared. “It was never ‘just a job’ to her — she made us feel seen, supported, and hopeful during a very difficult time in our lives.”
A Path to Permanent Housing
As their stay in the emergency shelter continued, Melissa and her family began working toward long-term housing. In their third month, they officially began searching for a permanent home that would provide stability for their growing daughter.
Once they found an apartment that met their needs, Catholic Charities staff helped guide them through the rapid rehousing process.
“Our future property manager, Catholic Charities, and us all worked together to get everything completed,” Melissa said. “Monika and Kelcy even helped us move after our vehicle broke down, which meant more to us than we can express.”
That hands-on support made the transition possible at a moment when the family needed it most.
A New Chapter
Today, Melissa, her husband, and their daughter are no longer experiencing homelessness. They have a place to call home and ongoing support as they continue building stability.
“Since connecting with Catholic Charities, our situation has improved tremendously. We now have a place to call home,” Melissa said. “Catholic Charities has continued supporting us with rental assistance, gradually decreasing as we become more stable.”
Melissa knows firsthand how quickly housing instability can happen — and how hard it is to recover without help.
“Thank you to Catholic Charities — especially Sandi, Kelcy, and Monika,” she shared. “Our situation can sadly happen to anybody, and it is incredibly difficult to recover on your own. Because of your support, we were able to move out of homelessness and into permanent housing.”
Stories like Melissa’s remind us that emergency shelter is more than a temporary place to stay — it is a bridge to stability, dignity, and a hopeful future for families.
