There’s no place like home:
Cleveland Housing Network, Inc.
Disclaimer: In compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, all stories about specific individuals are told with their express written informed consent.
Seventeen years ago, Liz suffered a stroke, and three years later, a
massive heart attack. Doctors told her she could no longer work. Despite
that, she continued to work as a home care nurse. In 1992, she bought
her house from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – it was reasonably priced, she had a 
significant
amount of money in the bank, and was working full time. As the years
passed, she found herself struggling to fit in as many home care visits
as she could, sometimes working seven days a week to try to earn enough to
pay her mortgage and health insurance premiums – premiums that increased
every year, despite the fact that she has not had any significant health
issues since her heart attack.
By the time she was 61, she was struggling to make ends meet, and in serious danger of losing her home.
Hope in the midst of a storm
Despite the fact that Liz hates to ask for help, she did everything she could think of to try to keep her home. She investigated the requirements for obtaining disability benefits. She talked to representatives at the bank where she held her mortgage. She maintained detailed records and compiled a stack of documentation. Everywhere she went -- rejection. In January 2009, she received a letter informing her that foreclosure action was being taken on her home.
She seriously considered just walking away. She had $3,200 from her income
tax return, and family in Louisiana who would take her in, but the thought
of going back at age 63 to live with her parents made Liz want to try
again to get some help.
“In the middle of a huge snowstorm, I drove downtown in search of the offices of Cleveland Housing Network. I prayed to God to get me there, and he did,” said Liz. “I went in, prepared for rejection once again, and instead found the answer to all of my prayers in the form of an angel here on earth by the name of Tom.”
Finally, someone who cares
Tom Tosuksri (shown at right with Liz) is a Special Projects Manager for Cleveland Housing Network (CHN). His responsibilities change based on need, but when he met Liz,
he had a caseload of about 50 (CHN’s Community Training Center has six
counselors handling hundreds of these types of cases each year). The
programs and services of CHN help Clevelanders become home owners, avoid
defaulting on home loans, prevent foreclosure, and achieve financial
stability and self sufficiency.
After their initial meeting on that snowy day, Liz didn’t call Tom – she was afraid if she bothered him, she would end up being rejected again. But Tom kept calling Liz. He familiarized himself with her case, and knew what needed to be done, and when. He knew who to talk to in order to make things happen.
Today, Liz is back to being independent, full of life, fun and feisty; happily living in her home, once again planning home improvement projects and working in her yard. She’s proud of her work ethic, her accomplishments, her family and her home.
Thanks to additional resources provided by CHN, she was able to qualify for the Medicaid Buy-In Program (which supplements working people with disabilities) and reduce her monthly medical payment as well.
“If there was an answer out there, CHN found it. They did all the legwork and handled the financial aspects as well, but what was equally important to me was the moral support they provided – they gave me hope,” said Liz.
Disclaimer: In compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, all stories about specific individuals are told with their express written informed consent.
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