Lost in Resource Translation

I. Client Name: A.C.*

This is a young West African immigrant mother of six (all 8 years old
and under) who does not speak English. She, her husband (who does
speak English), and her 6 children make up 8 of the 22 people living
in her 3 bedroom apartment. She and her husband both have Social
Security cards, and 5 of her 6 children were born in the US.

II. Case Concerns/Presenting Issues:

- Adequate housing
- Child's medical conditions exacerbated by living situation

III. Medical Info:

One of her children's asthma is aggravated by overcrowded apartment,
to a critical point.
All children testing positive for lead in their blood due to outdated
paint on walls.

IV. Social/Work History:

A.C. and her husband have been in the US for nine years and are
documented immigrants. A.C.'s husband has a steady job, but she
herself stays home to look after all the children. They receive WIC,
ACD subsidized childcare, and Medicaid, but no other public benefits.

V. Action Plan:

- A meeting with PATH office was arranged, but temporary home was
turned down by A.C.'s husband.
- Follow up with apartment A.C.'s husband knows about
- Search housing lotteries, add A.C.'s name to list, organize
appointments with landowners where appropriate.
- Get A.C. and her family set up with Food Stamps so that the part of
their income that usually goes to feeding 8 people can now be used for
other things, especially a cleaner apartment that would fit their
whole family in a healthy way.

VI. Story:

Although the situation is urgent, due to her children's medical
concerns (asthma and lead toxins), A.C.'s husband turned down the
temporary home the PATH office offered because he did not want to
"live with the homeless people." Following this, A.C. called, saying
desperately (through a translator) that she needed to move out, she
needed that apartment. She asked me to talk to her husband. When I
called her husband to talk about the issue, he said that he would be
meeting up with a man his boss connected him with, who was going to
rent him an apartment for just over what he could pay. The meeting
was rescheduled, however, and further follow up is needed. In the
meantime, I have been calling and checking up with A.C. to make sure
everything is okay. I am also setting up an appointment for them to
apply for Food Stamps so that if her husband is able to secure this
other apartment, they can use money that is now going for food toward
rent.

--Alexandra Woodward, BC '10