Misty
After an extensive stay at Loyola University Medical Center, Misty began her journey with Housing Forward. Misty was 29 years old when she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2014. Since then, her medical condition has progressively worsened. She has battled thyroid cancer, strokes, depression and bariatric surgery. During this time Misty was forced to leave her family home after her mother died. She relied on friends for a place to live, which only furthered her need for stability. Misty kept fighting.
Her hospital social worker knew Misty needed a stable place to heal and referred her to Sojourner House, one of two Medical Respite Programs operated by Housing Forward and our hospital partners. Misty confesses that if Sojourner House had been unavailable, she would have needed to recuperate in the hospital full time. As she admits, “batteries and a plug” are the life-saving devices she needs to keep her heart pumping.
Misty’s journey from housing crisis to housing stability was secured with her recent move to Broadview Legacy Apartments, Housing Forward’s new permanent supportive housing development that opened in May. When asked how she feels about her new, fully furnished, apartment, she says emphatically, “I love it here!” Her next steps are a surgery to remove excess skin after her loss of over 200 pounds and getting onto the heart transplant list. Working with her case manager, Terri, Misty believes there is hope for a happy, stable life while maintaining her health.
Misty’s story is just one example of how we end a person’s homelessness. Thousands each year find their way to us, and we respond, day after day. Your donation will allow us to build more pathways out of homelessness and towards safe, stable homes for individuals like Misty.