Any Little Bit Helps

Everyone has been affected by COVID-19. Whether it was testing positive, losing a loved one, or losing your job; to name a few, COVID-19 knocked on your door.

Back in December 2020, I had been working per-diem for another company. I decided that per diem checks weren't taking care of my full-time bills, so I found a full-time job as an Employment Specialist for a non-profit organization. I felt that it would not only help me pay my bills, but I would be able to help others and make a difference in their lives.

I had only been with this company for a month when they dropped a federal grant in my lap to manage. The Federal grant was to assist people who were in rental arrears because of COVID-19. The grant was for $20,000 and it was now my job to determine who would qualify to receive rental assistance.

At first, I was a little distraught because no one told me what needed to be done, let alone train me. But I quickly figured it out and created a system for myself that would enable me to do my job efficiently. I would interview the individuals applying for assistance and get verification as to how they were impacted by COVID-19. That was the one stipulation with the Federal grant. The individuals had to have been impacted by COVID-19 in some way. Not just testing positive because so many people tested positive. Individuals applying for the rental assistance program had to be able to show one or all of the following: lost their job, hours were decreased, lost childcare (like when the schools shut down), medically impacted (tested positive but unable to return to work because symptoms of COVID-19 were still present. This is called a long hauler)

Let me tell you, I encountered some seriously not so nice people who gave me a hard time about doing my job. They felt that I was asking too many questions. I mean they were looking for assistance, right? Once I explained that it was part of my job and when it was time to be audited, I would have to be able to produce necessary documentation and proof, they took it down a couple of notches. There was this one guy who had to come into the office to provide documentation for me. Now, I am 5’3” tall. This man that came in was 6’4”. Can you see the difference in your mind’s eye? No matter what I said or explained as to why I was asking these questions or needed the documentation, he would not budge and just seemed to get nastier. He even asked me, “What are you going to ask me next? When was the last time I had sex?” I had to take a step back and a deep breathe before I responded to him. I answered, “now you know that was totally uncalled for and there is no need to be nasty. You came looking for assistance and I am only doing my job.” Long story short, I will just say his application did not get approved.

I also met some of the nicest and most appreciative people. Once we got to the part of the process when the person's application was approved, they would have to come into the office to sign papers for me. I can think of 6 individuals specifically who literally brought me to tears because they were so grateful for the assistance that I had given them. One of the amazing individuals said to me, “I know we are in the middle of a pandemic, and we are supposed to socially distance ourselves from others, but I just have to give you a hug.” “Is it okay?”, she asked. “Please don’t say no”, she said. I looked at her and I could see nothing but joy, relief, and gratitude in her eyes. How could I say no to that? Despite the pandemic and all the new rules and norms that go with it, I agreed to hugging this woman. She stood up and wrapped her arms around me and gave me the biggest hug I had received in a very long time. Have you ever felt like you were falling apart, and someone hugged you so hard that it was like they were holding you together? That is what that hug felt like, and I did not realize that I needed to receive it just as much as she needed to give it to me. They were the people that made me say, "It is exactly times like this and people like this that make me love what I do." I made a difference by helping someone not lose their home.