Cindy has faced many challenges while raising her five-year-old son with autism, but her focus has remained constant: creating a stable home where he can grow and thrive.
As a single mother, Cindy has spent the past several years navigating housing instability, specialized education, and the everyday responsibilities of caring for her young son.
There have been difficult stretches. For nearly two years, Cindy and her son lived in shelters. At times, she struggled to afford transportation and find enough food. Shelter restrictions made it particularly difficult to balance work and caring for her family.
Through each challenge, Cindy remained focused on creating greater stability for her son. “My son has always been the priority,” she said.
Finding Support through Catholic Charities
Cindy first heard about Catholic Charities of New York from a parishioner at church.
Soon after, she connected with a case manager at Catholic Charities’ Cardinal Spellman Center who listened to what she was experiencing and helped her access resources and immediate assistance. Catholic Charities of New York initially helped Cindy with transportation assistance and acquiring a cellphone. Over time, that relationship grew beyond addressing immediate needs.
Through case management, Cindy also became involved in a monthly peer support group offered by Catholic Charities of New York. The group brought clients together to share their experiences and talk about challenges they are facing.
The monthly meetings also provided practical information to help participants become more independent. In addition to resources provided by Catholic Charities of New York, community organizations were invited to speak about topics such as opening a bank account, building credit, writing a résumé, and navigating New York City’s social service systems.
For Cindy, the group became both a source of information and community. While living in the shelter system, she often felt isolated. The monthly gatherings gave her an opportunity to meet people, share experiences, and hear from others facing similar challenges.
“You realize that you are not alone,” Cindy said. Those connections would later help her navigate challenges related to housing and other needs.
“Catholic Charities has been the best thing that has happened to me,” she said.
Finding Permanent Housing in the Bronx
One of Cindy’s biggest goals was finding a stable home for herself and her son. Through Catholic Charities of New York’s monthly peer support group, Cindy learned about housing resources.
Eventually, Cindy secured a CityFHEPS (the City Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement) housing voucher and moved with her son into an apartment in the Bronx. CityFHEPS is a New York City rental assistance program that helps eligible individuals and families find and maintain permanent housing.
For Cindy and her son, securing an apartment meant leaving the shelter system behind and finally having a place to call their own. It gave them stability and sense of routine that had been difficult to maintain while living in temporary housing.
At the shelter, Cindy did not have a kitchen and could not cook for her son. Today, she can prepare the foods he enjoys and make sure he has healthier options for his development. “He is eating much better,” she said.
Moving into an apartment was an important turning point for Cindy and her son, but challenges remained. Their new home is far from her son’s specialized school in Manhattan, making the daily commute difficult. Concerns from a neighbor about noise related to her son’s autism also left Cindy worried about their housing stability.
She again turned to Catholic Charities of New York. Her case manager, Alexander Gutierrez, at the Cardinal Spellman Center helped connect her with a Catholic Charities Homebase site in the Bronx for additional support. Homebase provides services to New Yorkers experiencing housing instability, including eviction prevention, public benefits assistance, financial counseling, and other support to help individuals and families remain stably housed.
“Cindy’s story reflects the hope we create at the Cardinal Spellman Center. It’s a place where families can find support, build connections, and access resources that help them build greater stability,” said Mr. Gutierrez. “It has been meaningful to help Cindy and her son, to see how far they have come, and support them on their journey.”
For Cindy, that continued support has made a lasting impression. “It’s like Catholic Charities has always been with me,” she said.
Celebrating Her Son’s Progress and Building the Next Chapter as a Home Health Aide
For all the challenges Cindy has faced, some of her proudest moments have come from watching her son grow. When he was younger, Cindy said, he spoke only about 25 words. Today, he communicates in full sentences, sings, and continues to develop new skills.
As her son makes progress, Cindy is also beginning to build toward her own goals.
She completed training and earned her certification as a home health aide. She currently takes on a limited number of cases, allowing her to earn an income while maintaining the flexibility she needs to care for her son.
The work is a natural fit for Cindy. Caring for another person, she explained, requires responsibility, patience, and empathy — qualities that have become an important part of her own life as a mother and caregiver.
She also hopes to continue her education. Cindy previously worked as a paralegal, and one day she would like to return to her legal studies and use that experience to help others navigate difficult situations. “I love helping people,” she said.
Today, Cindy is taking each step with her son’s future in mind. She is grateful for the stability they have built and for the continued support she has found at the Cardinal Spellman Center along the way.
Her greatest hope is that her son will continue to grow and learn. “I want him to have opportunities that I never had and to be successful,” Cindy said.
