For Johanny, falling behind on rent raised a frightening question: Where would she and her teenage daughter go if they lost their home?
A single mother living in West Harlem, Johanny had faced unemployment, mounting rent and utility bills and the challenge of supporting her family on a limited income. As the rent arrears grew and her case reached Housing Court, she turned to Catholic Charities of New York’s Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Community Center in Harlem for help.
At the Kennedy Center, Jisset Medina, a Catholic Charities Case Manager, helped Johanny navigate emergency assistance, including a One-Shot Deal application to address her rent arrears. Through persistent follow-up, case management and Johanny’s own determination, the assistance was eventually approved, helping her avoid eviction and remain in her home with her daughter.
Johanny’s experience reflects an important part of Catholic Charities of New York’s work: helping individuals and families facing housing crises access resources, prevent eviction, and maintain stable housing.
For Johanny, the reason to keep pushing forward was always clear. “My daughter is everything to me,” she said. “She is where I find the strength to keep going and not give up.”
Struggling to Make Ends Meet
Johanny came to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2015 with her daughter. In her home country, she earned a degree in industrial engineering and worked as a supervisor. After arriving in New York, however, limited English made it difficult to pursue a career in her field.
Johanny, who was diagnosed with lupus as a teenager, eventually found work in housekeeping. But the physical demands of the job became difficult because of her health, and she had to stop working. “When I was unemployed, I took care of my daughter and tried to keep my mind busy so I wouldn’t worry so much,” she recalled.
Today, Johanny works as a home health aide caring for her sister, who recently received a kidney transplant. She takes pride in the care she provides, but her income remains limited.
As expenses accumulated, Johanny began falling behind on rent. She sought help wherever she could, approaching city agencies and community organizations and exploring housing assistance programs. But finding the right program, and successfully navigating the process, was difficult.
Eventually, the amount she owed became impossible to ignore.
“When I saw how much rent debt had accumulated, I knew I had to ask for help,” Johanny said. “I was thinking, ‘If they evict me, where am I going to go with my daughter?’”
Finding Support and Community at the Kennedy Center
Johanny was already familiar with Catholic Charities’ Kennedy Center through its food pantry. With food prices consuming more of her household budget, she relied on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as well as food pantries in her community to help make ends meet.
One day, Johanny learned that the Kennedy Center could also help people facing rent and utility difficulties. That connection eventually brought her to Jisset, a Catholic Charities Case Manager.
“From the first time I met Jisset, I felt I could trust her,” Johanny said. “I felt comfortable talking to her.”
Jisset helped Johanny pursue utility assistance and navigate applications for a One-Shot Deal through the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA). The program provides emergency financial assistance to eligible New Yorkers facing unexpected expenses, including rent arrears.
The application involves several steps, including submitting an online application, completing an interview and providing supporting documents. Missing a deadline or failing to complete one of those steps can jeopardize an application.
For Jisset, case management meant helping Johanny stay on top of each requirement while encouraging her to continue advocating for herself. “I kept encouraging her to follow up, and go to HRA, find out what happened, keep going and keep pushing,” Jisset said. “But she was also very good at advocating for herself.”
That persistence mattered.
Johanny had submitted applications before and encountered setbacks. Jisset continued checking on the status of her case, reviewing information with her, and encouraging her to follow up directly with HRA.
“She always encouraged me to keep following up,” Johanny said. “That was a great help to me.”
Johanny also sought assistance from other community organizations. When she learned that a rent payment was needed as part of resolving her case, another local organization helped cover that month. Eventually, the One-Shot Deal application she and Jisset had worked on was approved.
The news came at a critical moment: Johanny was already involved in Housing Court over the rent arrears. “I was so happy,” she recalled. “Jisset was the first person I called.”
Johanny received documentation showing that HRA had made the rental payments and brought it with her to Housing Court. After months of uncertainty, she could finally walk into court knowing that the arrears threatening her family’s housing had been addressed.
Helping Families Remain in Their Homes
For families facing mounting rent arrears, the right assistance at the right time can mean the difference between losing a home and remaining safely housed.
Preventing eviction and helping families maintain stable housing is an important part of Catholic Charities of New York’s work. Through case management, advocacy, and connections to emergency assistance, staff help clients address housing crises before they lead to displacement.
Johanny’s story shows what that work can look like on an individual level. Jisset helped her navigate the application process, stay on top of required steps and continue advocating for herself until assistance was secured.
For someone already worried about rent, food, utilities, work and family, navigating government programs can become another burden. At the Kennedy Center, clients can sit down with someone who listens to their circumstances, helps them understand available resources, and guides them through the next steps. Through wraparound services, the Kennedy Center serves as a welcoming community hub where individuals and families can find support, build connections, and get help addressing a range of needs.
“Sometimes people come here feeling completely helpless because of the situation they are facing,” Jisset said. “It’s important to have organizations that are willing to listen and help people navigate these programs.”
For Jisset, that work is personal. “I love helping people. It’s my passion,” she said. “I find a lot of happiness when my clients achieve their goals.”
Today, Johanny is looking beyond the crisis that first brought her to the Kennedy Center. She hopes her daughter will finish high school, attend college and pursue the career of her choice. Right now, her daughter dreams of becoming a nurse.
“My dream is for her to graduate and pursue whatever career she wants,” Johanny said.
Her advice to other mothers facing difficult circumstances reflects the persistence Jisset saw throughout their work together. “Fight for your dreams. Fight for your children,” Johanny said. “Keep working, keep looking for solutions and always find the strength to keep going.”
“I hope people continue supporting Catholic Charities so they can keep helping people who need it,” she said.
