Who is Caridad?

San Francisco, CA

Caridad moved to San Francisco in 2002 with her husband and daughter. After her husband passed away in 2009, Caridad was unable to pay rent and lost her apartment. After almost ten years of living in very tight quarters with her daughter, Caridad moved into a shelter in 2019 and joined Miracle Friends in May.

Miracle Money Goals 2021

1. Pay a security deposit for her new room

2. Pay monthly rent

3. Extra money will go to buy small appliances and home furnishings

Six Month Goals Update

1. Permanent housing achieved

2. Successful rent payments since March 2021

3. Small appliances and essential home furnishings purchased

Caridad’s Miracle Money Experience

Miracle Money has helped Caridad become much happier and healthier. She's taking exercise classes twice a week at her SRO and says she's feeling stronger. As part of her self-care, Caridad is using her funds to pay rent and replace legal documents that expired or were misplaced while she was living in the shelter. 

Caridad wants everyone to know how blessed she feels to be part of the Miracle Friends and Miracle Money program that have helped her feel so much more stable.

After the first month of Miracle Money, Caridad settled into her new room and started to feel much more comfortable with her surroundings, though her apartment is on a rough street. She uses a walker and is worried about being mugged and pushed to the ground, although she has found safe routes to get to the bus stop and senior center.

She also ordered a table and wardrobe to arrive from Ikea. Her daughter and granddaughter came over to assemble the pieces, which she was quite the job!

The stipend she's received has made a huge difference. She is grateful for both Miracle Friends and Miracle Money, and for having a permanent home.

As each month went on with Miracle Money, Caridad continued to improve her life. Her room continues to get more and more comfortable. Since moving into her new room, Caridad has started feeling and looking much healthier.

Without the stress of Covid and wondering where she was going to live or how she was going to pay for it, her legs and hands have stopped hurting. She said her pain went away. She started using her walker less and began feeling so much better overall. She is able to cook healthy food and take better care of herself.

With the small appliance and cooking utensils, she was able to purchase with Miracle Money, she has set up a very efficient kitchen where she cooks healthy and tasty food every day.

Sadly, she lost her brother in May but was able to help her family in the Philippines with medical expenses. She felt blessed to have received not only the Miracle Money but also the aid and friendship of her Miracle Friend.

Miracle Money gave Caridad more security. She doesn’t have to worry so much and has been able to make her room warm and cozy with a rug and some kitchen items. She also bought warm clothes.

Caridad also met with the Smart Money coaches to help her create a budget.