Jada Riley thought she had beaten homelessness.
The 26-year-old New Orleans resident was finally making a steady income cleaning houses during the pandemic to afford a $700-a-month, one-bedroom apartment. But she lost nearly all her clients after Hurricane Ida hit last year. Then she was fired from a grocery store job in February after taking time off to help a relative.
kAm%H@ >@?E9D 369:?5 @? C6?E[ D96 >256 E96 5:77:4F=E 564:D:@? =2DE >@?E9 E@ =62G6 96C 2A2CE>6?E C2E96C E92? C:D< 2? 6G:4E:@? ;F58>6?E @? 96C C64@C5] }@H[ D96’D =:G:?8 :? 96C 42C H:E9 96C e\J62C\@=5 D@?[ D@>6E:>6D DA6?5:?8 ?:89ED 2E E96 2A2CE>6?ED @7 7C:6?5D @C 96C D@?’D 72E96C]k^Am
kAm“x’G6 D=6AE @FED:56 7@C 2 H9@=6 J62C 367@C6] xE’D G6CJ 56AC6DD:?8[ x’> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ =:6[” D2:5 #:=6J[ H9@ @7E6? 5@6D?’E 92G6 6?@F89 >@?6J E@ 3FJ 82D @C 277@C5 7@@5 6G6CJ 52J]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E H2?E E@ 92G6 >J D@? 6IA6C:6?46 2?J DECF88=6D E92E x H6?E E9C@F89]”k^Am
kAmtG:4E:@? 7:=:?8D ?2E:@?H:56 92G6 DE625:=J C:D6? :? C646?E >@?E9D 2?5 2C6 2AAC@249:?8 @C 6I4665:?8 AC6\A2?56>:4 =6G6=D :? >2?J 4:E:6D 2?5 DE2E6D] %92E’D :? DE2C< 4@?EC2DE E@ E96 A2?56>:4[ H96? DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= >@C2E@C:F>D @? 6G:4E:@?D[ 4@>3:?65 H:E9 Sce]d 3:==:@? :? 7656C2= t>6C86?4J #6?E2= pDD:DE2?46[ <6AE >:==:@?D @7 72>:=:6D 9@FD65]k^Am
kAm“x C62==J E9:?< E9:D :D E96 E:A @7 E96 :4636C8[” $92??@? |24z6?K:6[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 r@=@C25@ !@G6CEJ {2H !C@;64E[ D2:5 @7 yF?6 7:=:?8D :? s6?G6C[ H9:49 H6C6 23@FE acT 9:896C E92? E96 D2>6 E:>6 E9C66 J62CD 28@] “~FC ?F>36CD @7 6G:4E:@?D 2C6 :?4C62D:?8 6G6CJ >@?E9 2E 2? 2DE@?:D9:?8 C2E6[ 2?5 x ;FDE 5@?’E D66 E92E 232E:?8 2?J E:>6 D@@?]”k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ %96 tG:4E:@? {23[ D6G6C2= 4:E:6D 2C6 CF??:?8 72C 23@G6 9:DE@C:4 2G6C286D[ H:E9 |:??62A@=:D\$E] !2F= h`T 9:896C :? yF?6[ {2D '682D FA deT[ w2CE7@C5[ r@??64E:4FE[ FA baT[ 2?5 y24<D@?G:==6[ u=@C:52[ FA `fT] x? |2C:4@A2 r@F?EJ[ 9@>6 E@ !9@6?:I[ 6G:4E:@? 7:=:?8D :? yF=J H6C6 E96 9:896DE :? `b J62CD[ @77:4:2=D D2:5]k^Am
kAm$@>6 =682= 25G@42E6D D2:5 E96 D92CA :?4C62D6 :? 9@FD:?8 AC:46D 5F6 E@ :?7=2E:@? :D A2CE=J E@ 3=2>6] #6?E2= AC:46D ?2E:@?H:56 2C6 FA ?62C=J `dT 7C@> 2 J62C 28@ 2?5 2=>@DE adT 7C@> a_`h[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 C62= 6DE2E6 4@>A2?J +:==@H] #6?E2= G242?4J C2E6D[ >62?H9:=6[ 92G6 564=:?65 E@ 2 bd\J62C =@H @7 d]gT[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 r6?DFD qFC62F]k^Am
kAmp C6A@CE =2DE >@?E9 7C@> E96 }2E:@?2= {@H x?4@>6 w@FD:?8 r@2=:E:@? 7@F?5 E92E 2 E6?2?E H@C<:?8 7F== E:>6 ?665D E@ >2<6 ?62C=J Sae A6C 9@FC @? 2G6C286 ?2E:@?2==J E@ 277@C5 2 >@56DE EH@\365C@@> C6?E2= 2?5 Sa`]ad 7@C 2 @?6\365C@@>] %96 7656C2= >:?:>F> H286 :D Sf]ad 2? 9@FC]k^Am
kAm“{2?5=@C5D 2C6 C2:D:?8 E96 C6?E 2?5 >2<:?8 :E G6CJ F?277@C523=6 7@C E6?2?ED E@ DE2J[” D2:5 |2C:6 r=2:C6 %C2?\{6F?8[ E96 6G:4E:@? :?:E:2E:G6 AC@;64E 5:C64E@C 7@C E96 }2E:@?2= w@FD:?8 {2H !C@;64E]k^Am
kAm“x?7=2E:@? 92D C62==J D9CF?< E96 DFAA=J @7 9@FD:?8 E92E :D 2G2:=23=6 7@C A6@A=6 H:E9 E96 =@H6DE :?4@>6D[” D96 25565] “(:E9@FE >@C6 AC@E64E:@?D :? A=246[ H9:49 ?@E 2== DE2E6D 92G6[ 2 =@E @7 E9@D6 72>:=:6D H:== 36 C6?56C65 9@>6=6DD]”k^Am
kAm!2EC:4< |4r=@F5[ 49:67 6I64FE:G6 @77:46C @7 E96 ':C8:?:2 pA2CE>6?E |2?286>6?E pDD@4:2E:@?[ D2:5 E96 EC6?5 :D 2 C6EFC? E@ ?@C>2=] “}@ @?6 =:<6D 6G:4E:@?D[ 3FE E96J 2C6 :? D@>6 H2JD 2 C6D6E E@ E96 64@?@>J[” |4r=@F5 D2:5[ 255:?8 E92E 6G:4E:@?D 92G6 366? “2CE:7:4:2==J 56AC6DD65]”k^Am
kAm“w@FD:?8 :D 32D65 @? DFAA=J 2?5 56>2?5] p?5 H96? ?@ @?6 >@G6D 2?5 J@F 92G6 ?@ G242?4:6D[ J@F 92G6 2 E:89E >2C<6E 2?5 AC:46D 8@ FA]”k^Am
kAmvC292> q@H>2?[ 2 DE277 2EE@C?6J H:E9 {682= p:5 $@4:6EJ @7 r@=F>3FD[ ~9:@[ D2:5 6G:4E:@?D E96C6 2C6 C:D:?8 — `dT 23@G6 9:DE@C:4 2G6C286D :? yF?6 2=@?6 — 2E 2 E:>6 H96? E96C6 2C6 76H6C A=246D 7@C E9@D6 7@C465 @FE E@ 8@]k^Am
kAm$96CJ= {J??6 $>:E9 H2D 6G:4E65 :? |2J 7C@> 96C EH@\365C@@> E@H?9@FD6 :? r@=F>3FD 27E6C D96 FD65 96C C6?E >@?6J E@ C6A2:C 2 D6H286 =62< :? E96 32D6>6?E] $>:E9[ H9@ :D =682==J 3=:?5 2?5 92D 2 7656C2= 9@FD:?8 G@F496C[ 762CD D96 H@?’E 36 23=6 E@ 7:?5 2?JE9:?8 3J $6AE6>36C H96? E96 G@F496C 6IA:C6D 3642FD6 @7 C:D:?8 9@FD:?8 AC:46D 2?5 E96 6G:4E:@? @? 96C C64@C5]k^Am
kAm“xE’D G6CJ D42CJ[” D2:5 $>:E9[ db[ H9@D6 E6>A@C2CJ DE2J 2E 2 9@E6= 7F?565 E9C@F89 2 DE2E6 AC@8C2> 6?5D E9:D H66<6?5]k^Am
kAmx? q@:D6[ x529@[ y6C6>J |4z6??6J[ cd[ >@G65 :?E@ 9:D 42C =2DE H66< 27E6C 2 ;F586 D:565 H:E9 2 AC@A6CEJ >2?286>6?E 4@>A2?J E92E ?62C=J EC:A=65 E96 C6?E @? 9:D EH@\365C@@> 9@FD6] %96 {J7E 2?5 s@@Cs2D9 5C:G6C H:== 92G6 E@ C6?E 2 9@E6= C@@> H96?6G6C 96 92D 4FDE@5J @7 9:D 49:=5C6?[ h 2?5 `a]k^Am
kAm“xE’D 567:?:E6=J >:?5 3=@H:?8[” D2:5 |4z6??6J[ 255:?8 E92E 6G6CJE9:?8 @? E96 >2C<6E :D 36J@?5 9:D C6249 6G6? 27E6C 2 ?@?AC@7:E @776C65 E@ 4@G6C E96 D64FC:EJ 56A@D:E] “x 92G6 ?6G6C 366? 9@>6=6DD 367@C6] x 92G6 2=H2JD 925 2 C@@7 @G6C >J 9625]”k^Am
kAm%96 @E96C 492==6?86 :D E96 7656C2= 6>6C86?4J C6?E2= 2DD:DE2?46 E92E 96=A65 <66A >:==:@?D 9@FD65 5FC:?8 E96 A2?56>:4 92D 5C:65 FA :? D@>6 ;FC:D5:4E:@?D @C 366? :?4C62D:?8=J C6;64E65 3J D@>6 =2?5=@C5D]k^Am
kAm“(92E C62==J 86ED >6 :D E96C6 :D C6?E2= 2DD:DE2?46 2?5 D@ >2?J =2?5=@C5D ;FDE 5@?’E H2?E :E] %96J H@F=5 C2E96C E9C@H D@>6@?6 @? E96 DEC66E E92? E2<6 >@?6J[” tC:4 zH2CE=6C[ >2?28:?8 2EE@C?6J @7 {@?6 $E2C {682= p:5’D tG:4E:@? #:89E E@ r@F?D6= !C@;64E[ H9:49 4@G6CD w@FDE@? 2?5 w2CC:D r@F?EJ :? %6I2D] “x7 J@F E2<6 E96 >@?6J[ J@F 42?’E 6G:4E E96>] %96J H2?E E96> @FE]”k^Am
kAm%96 &]$] %C62DFCJ D2:5 =2DE H66< E92E >@C6 E92? Sc_ 3:==:@? @7 E96 Sce]d 3:==:@? :? t>6C86?4J #6?E2= pDD:DE2?46 925 366? DA6?E @C 2==@42E65]k^Am
kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= {@H x?4@>6 w@FD:?8 r@2=:E:@?[ r2=:7@C?:2[ r@??64E:4FE[ |2DD249FD6EED[ |:??6D@E2[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 2?5 ':C8:?:2 92G6 8@?6 E9C@F89 2E =62DE h_T @7 E96:C 7:CDE 5:D3FCD6>6?E] %H6=G6 DE2E6D 2?5 E96 s:DEC:4E @7 r@=F>3:2 925 FD65 d_T @7 E96 D64@?5 2==@42E:@?[ <?@H? 2D t#pa[ 3J E96 6?5 @7 |2J] %9C66 — x529@[ ~9:@ 2?5 x@H2 — 92G6?’E DA6?E 2?J t#pa >@?6J 2?5 EH@ — }63C2D<2 2?5 pC<2?D2D — 5:5?’E 2446AE E96 7F?5D]k^Am
kAm“%96 AF3=:4 962=E9 6>6C86?4J >2J DE:== 36 96C6 3FE E96 7F?5D E@ 562= H:E9 :E 2C6 C2A:5=J 5:D2AA62C:?8[” D2:5 |2CE:? (683C6:E[ 5:C64E@C @7 =:E:82E:@? 7@C E96 r6?EC2= ':C8:?:2 {682= p:5 $@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAm%C62DFCJ :D 6?4@FC28:?8 DE2E6D 2?5 4:E:6D E@ E2A @E96C 7656C2= DE:>F=FD 7F?5D E@ 4@G6C E96 82AD] $@ 72C[ @G6C e__ DE2E6 2?5 =@42= 8@G6C?>6?ED 925 3F586E65 S`a]h 3:==:@? :? DE:>F=FD 7F?5D E@ >66E 9@FD:?8 ?665D[ :?4=F5:?8 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAmv6?6 $A6C=:?8[ H9@ @G6CD66D !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?’D S`]h EC:==:@? 4@C@?2G:CFD C6D4F6 A24<286[ 9:89=:89E65 E96 DF446DD @7 :ED C6?E2= 2DD:DE2?46 AC@8C2>[ H9:49 92D C624965 f >:==:@? >@DE=J =@H\:?4@>6 9@FD69@=5D]k^Am
kAmqFE[ >@C6 ?665D E@ 36 5@?6 E@ 6?DFC6 E96 4@F?ECJ 5@6D?’E C6EFC? E@ AC6\A2?56>:4 E:>6D H96? b]e >:==:@? E6?2?ED H6C6 6G:4E65 2??F2==J 2?5 “6G:4E:@?D H6C6 E@@ @7E6? 2 7:CDE C6D@CE[ ?@E 2 =2DE C6D@CE[” 96 E@=5 2 7@CF> @? 6G:4E:@? C67@C>D 2E E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 =2DE H66<]k^Am
kAm$@>6 =2H>2<6CD D2:5 E96 2?DH6C :D 2 A6C>2?6?E C6?E2= 2DD:DE2?46 AC@8C2>] p 3:== :?EC@5F465 :? yF=J H@F=5 AC@G:56 Sb 3:==:@? 2??F2==J 7@C C6?E2= 2DD:DE2?46 2?5 7F?5 D6CG:46D E@ <66A 72>:=:6D 9@FD65] p DEF5J 4@>>:DD:@?65 3J E96 }2E:@?2= pA2CE>6?E pDD@4:2E:@? 2?5 E96 }2E:@?2= |F=E:72>:=J w@FD:?8 r@F?4:= D2JD E96 2?DH6C :D 3F:=5:?8 c]b >:==:@? 2A2CE>6?ED 3J a_bd]k^Am
kAm~E96C 25G@42E6D 42==65 7@C A6C>2?6?E =682= AC@E64E:@?D =:<6 C:89E E@ 4@F?D6= 7@C E6?2?ED @C 6G:4E:@? 5:G6CD:@? AC@8C2>D E@ C6D@=G6 6G:4E:@?D 367@C6 E96J C6249 E96 4@FCED]k^Am
kAmx? #:49>@?5[ ':C8:?:2[ 6G:4E:@? 7:=:?8D :? yF?6 H6C6 dcT 36=@H 9:DE@C:4 2G6C286D[ 2EEC:3FE65 E@ C6?E2= 2DD:DE2?46 2?5 >@C6 =682= C6AC6D6?E2E:@? 7@C E6?2?ED :? 4@FCE[ (683C6:E D2:5] $:>:=2C AC@8C2>D H6C6 4C65:E65 H:E9 }6H |6I:4@’D 6G:4E:@? 7:=:?8D 36:?8 ahT 36=@H 9:DE@C:4 2G6C286D :? yF?6]k^Am
kAm!9:=256=A9:2[ H9:49 A2DD65 2 =2H >2<:?8 6G:4E:@? 5:G6CD:@? >2?52E@CJ E9C@F89 E9:D J62C[ D2H 7:=:?8D 5@H? bbT] %96 r:EJ r@F?4:= :? !9:=256=A9:2 2=D@ 2AAC@G65 DA6?5:?8 Sb_ >:==:@? @G6C EH@ J62CD 7@C C6?E2= 2DD:DE2?46]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 492?86 E96 H2J H6 =@@< 2E E9:D :DDF6 :? !9:=256=A9:2[ H96C6 E96 @?=J E9:?8 J@F 5@ :D 8@ E@ =2?5=@C5 E6?2?E 4@FCE @C DE2CE 2? 6G:4E:@?[” D2:5 r2E96C:?6 p?56CD@?[ DFA6CG:D:?8 2EE@C?6J H:E9 !9:=256=A9:2 {682= pDD:DE2?46[ H9@ @G6CD66D E96 A2C2=682=D @? E96 $2G6 *@FC w@>6 !9:==J 9@E=:?6]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Stay relevant, be civil, re-read and re-think before you submit.