Holly Yzquierdo

"Karen" was a runaway who learned to survive on the streets by selling herself as a teenager. “I would do good, get a normal job, pay rent then get overwhelmed and go back to the life,” says Karen. The life for Karen meant selling herself while being high on drugs to numb the pain she was in.

The Flores struggled to find an affordable place to live, but due to their low income and pets, they couldn't find one. George worked as a day laborer when he could find work and Lydia was on medical leave from her job as a janitor at a local college. After facing the option of being homeless in the freezing temperatures, the Flores contacted Catholic Charities to see if they could qualify for help.

Children are placed for adoption for many reasons. Often a young woman finds herself pregnant and unable to care for a new baby. Many children, who are adopted, wonder why their parents couldn’t keep them. They have a deep longing to know their story and their birth parents.

Adopted as a baby, Anna longed to know her birth mother but felt afraid she would be rejected. After many years, she decided to write a letter to her birth mother through Catholic Charities.

The availability of computers onsite helped her to create her resume and apply for suitable positions online. Her efforts paid off, she landed a customer service job and has started working. Now, with an employed status, she'll qualify for housing and be on her way to finding a new home for her family.