In his teens, Rob made the decision to leave high school for a job at an independent tech store. He did well, starting out as a janitor but quickly moving up in the ranks to become head tech. His employers recognized his skill and knowledge, and rewarded him for it. Unfortunately, after seven years as [...]
“For the first time in eight years, I have my own real bed,” shares Lola. Lola had worked for years with a local hotel chain and was doing okay, making ends meet at least, until the day she started to get sick. It turned out that the hotel had a mold problem, and it was [...]
Sarah was walking down the hall of the nursing home when a partially opened door caught her eye. She saw the name of a man and a woman on the door that she did not recognize. As a volunteer Long-Term Care Ombuds, she regularly visited residents to make sure their needs were being met and [...]
“Tammy at MSC was the nicest lady, she went above and beyond to help me,” shares Donald. Donald was on his way to his job as a technician for a medical supply company bright and early on a snowy morning in December 2013 when an accident changed his life forever. He was near the federal [...]
Fourteen years ago, when Dedrick Jensen-Woodard married his wife, neither of them knew the changes life had in store. The plan was for Dedrick to be a stay-at-home father, taking care of his two step-children ages 3 and 7 years old. His wife was just offered a lucrative position putting her nursing skills to good [...]
The ORCA LIFT program helped out considerably. I did not have to worry whether or not l was going to make it to work on time or have to miss a day of work. The reduced fare helped me save money. Being on the program benefited me greatly. --Adrian, ORCA LIFT Card Recipient ORCA LIFT [...]
“MSC’s housing helped me find stability and become responsible again,” shares Emily, a resident at one of MSC’s income-based apartment complexes. In 2009, Emily lost her Section 8 Housing Voucher. She and her 11-year-old son had nowhere to go, so Emily sent her son to live with her aunt in Vancouver so he could have [...]
At 48 years old, Tracie is younger than most people imagine when they think of someone in a long-term care facility. However, people under age 64 represent about 37 percent of those needing long-term care.* Two years ago, Tracie suddenly had a stroke after finding her father who had just passed away. She was immediately [...]
“I never dreamed I could be homeless. I could pay my rent and still have a couple grand sitting in the bank. I did that because I wanted to live comfortably, and I wanted my kids to live comfortably. Then all of that was gone, we didn’t have a place to live.” Veronica and her [...]
“Sometimes it’s a choice between does my kid get shoes or do I pay the electric bill.” Sandy has been unable to work due to medical issues and is currently living in subsidized housing with her 11-year-old son. Her income is limited to government assistance of about $1,000 per month and an additional $130 for [...]
