Aging with Dignity: Holly Finds Stability at Hearth

When Holly first walked into her new apartment, the feeling was one of overwhelming relief. “I actually couldn’t believe it that it was finally happening,” she recalls. “I was going to have my own keys to my own place… I got my own bed. I got my own Bureau. I got my own closets, I got my own bathroom”.

This moment of peace and privacy was a long time coming. For decades, Holly had a successful career as a controller, working in management and finance. “I’ve always made a really good salary. I’ve had good jobs,” she shares. But after unexpectedly becoming a person with a disability, she was forced to stop working. This sudden, life-altering change eventually led to her experiencing homelessness.

Before finding Hearth, Holly spent over a year in a local shelter. While she was thankful for somewhere to stay, the constant lack of security was a difficult reality. It was a place where she lived in fear of her belongings being taken. She remembers having to sleep with her sneakers on, just so they wouldn’t be stolen from under her bed.

Now, Holly is settling into her new life at one of Hearth’s properties. “I love it,” she says. “The whole building is pretty much older citizens… It’s been peaceful. It’s nice and quiet”. After the anxiety of shelter life, the simple sense of security was transformative. “I don’t have to worry about people taking my stuff,” she says with relief.

Reflecting on her journey, Holly feels fortunate. “I bless myself every day for just how lucky I am,” she says. “Thank you very much for being out there… especially to help the elders, because you’d be surprised how many people that are out there that are really elderly and that need a place”.

Holly’s journey from a successful career in finance to experiencing homelessness highlights a frightening reality: a single life event can put even the most stable individuals at risk. Hearth is committed to ensuring that more older adults like Holly can find not just a roof, but a true home where they are safe, supported, and can age with dignity.