Untitled

Case Summary:

1. Basic Information
1. Client Pseudonym: Kimberly Johnson, 55 year-old single mother
2. Family Composition: Kimberly, and her 18 year old daughter Tania
3. Primary Language: English
2. Case Concerns/Presenting Issues
1. Housing Status
2. Food Status
3. Immigration Status
3. Medical Issues
1. The daughter’s visit to the clinic was for a routine check-up, so there are no pressing medical issues that directly connect to this case.
4. Social/Work History
1. Kimberly immigrated to New York about 20 years ago from Africa, and is currently a green-card holder.
2. She has a job as a cook, but it doesn’t pay very much.
3. She currently lives in her sister’s apartment, and her daughter has just started college.
5. Action Plan
1. Housing: See if her position on the waitlist is high enough so that she can receive Section 8 Housing, enter her in housing lotteries, and search independently for affordable housing.
2. Food: Try to get her back on to food stamps, and give information regarding nearby food pantries and soup kitchens in the meantime.
3. Immigration: Wait until more progress has been made in regards to housing and food, but will search for the protocol and procedures for becoming a US citizen in the meantime.

Narrative:

Kimberly is a 55-year old single mother with an 18-year old daughter who is about to start college. As her daughter was having a routine check up, she approached me at the Help Desk, and said that she wanted help with issues concerning her housing, food, and immigration. She lives in Section 8 Housing that is under her sister’s name, and she has been notified that she will have to leave this housing soon because they cannot put the apartment in her name. For this issue, she will continue to live in her sister’s apartment as long as she can. Additionally, she is on the Wait List for Section 8 Housing, so we are in the process of investigating as to whether she can get a different apartment. We are also working to get her enrolled in the housing lottery, and searching for low-cost quality apartments independently. In terms of food, she says that she cannot afford to keep a decent amount of food in her house, but she was rejected when she applied for food stamps. In response to this problem, we are working to see if she can actually be placed on food stamps, and I have given her information regarding soup kitchens and food pantries in her area for the meantime. Currently, Kimberly is a green card holder, and she wants to become a United States citizen, yet doesn’t know the process. We have agreed that this issue will wait until after substantive progress has been made in relation to her housing and food, but I am currently researching the protocol for becoming a full-fledged citizen. This case is still active, but I am optimistic that we will make progress in the coming weeks.

--Elizabeth Lamoste, CC '10

A Bronx Tale

Family Composition:

Ms. Jones* is a 67 year old female who lives with her 21 year old son, Billy Roberts*, and her four grandchildren. The granddaughters’ ages are 16 and 8 and the grandsons’ ages are 6 and 1. All family members speak English and are American citizens. All six family members live in an apartment together.

Case Concerns:

Main concern is finding enough food. Second concern is finding employment.

Medical Information:

All family members are healthy and have no chronic illnesses or health problems that affect work. The son, Billy, does have an anger management problem, but is working to control the issue. She is in the clinic for an annual check-up for a grandchild.

Action Plan:

In order to get food immediately, Ms. Jones was going to go to some local food pantries and get food for the next week. While waiting for the doctor’s appointment, she filled out a food stamp application and she was going to go to apply sometime within the week. She was also sent a job resource sheet and she was going to go to the Citizen’s Advice Bureau: Bronx Works to see if they could assist her in her employment search. A follow-up call revealed that the food stamp application process had been slowed, but she was put in touch with a man who could interview for food stamps over the phone. She was then unable to show up for a scheduled meeting for food stamps. Further steps will be taken to reschedule the meeting.

Social/Work History:

Ms. Jones has had some college education as well as many jobs in various fields such as secretarial work and care giving. However, now she is the primary caregiver for her grandchildren. Although she is healthy, she does get tired because she “running around” for her grandchildren. The living situation is suitable and Ms. Jones does not have a problem with their apartment. Ms. Jones desperately wants to obtain a job and hopes to do so in an area in which she has experience.

Story:

Ms. Jones and her son live with four children. They are both unemployed and they are not able to afford enough food to adequately feed everyone in the household. As the month goes on, the finances get tighter and food gets scarcer. Because both Ms. Jones and her son are unemployed, there is no steady income for the family. She is willing to travel for her job and/or receive specialized training. Her son is also willing to do the same in order to find a job. The first guardian to gain employment would keep his or her job and the one remaining unemployed would provide care for the children of the home. The main issue is the one concerning food. Ms. Jones was able to get food from food pantries and the food stamp application is still pending. The job application is still pending, but she has been put in contact with various resources. When Ms. Jones was last contacted, she was having trouble obtaining specific medical records for her grandson. She was helped with that and has since been out of contact. However, when further contact is established, a follow up on all issues will be made.

--Kathryn McCaleb, CC '11