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Community Impact

Lending a Hand to Austin's Most Vulnerable during Economic Downturn

Having lost her husband four years ago and her job last January, Olga Hernandez (name has been changed to honor client's privacy) found herself frightened, drowning in financial obligations last month. Hernandez, 52, was late in her rent, car payment and other utility bills. And after learning she would lose her car due to lack of payment and making many unsuccessful attempts to re-establish herself financially, she came to El Buen's food pantry for help where she met with El Buen's Social Services Program staff. They assessed her situation and gained a clear understanding of the magnitude of her financial stress.

"Mrs. Hernandez had outstanding housing expenses of more than $1, 200," said LaVerne Rodriguez, social services manager at El Buen Samaritano. "On one hand, her landlord was threatening with eviction, and on the other, bill collector phone calls regarding car payments would not cease."

El Buen provided her with partial financial and emergency food assistance and negotiated a smaller, more affordable apartment for Hernandez to help her economize and alleviate her hardship. Today, she continues to receive guidance from the Social Services Program staff as needed and plans to give back to her community through volunteerism as she takes steps toward self-sufficiency.

"I really don't know where I would be without the help I've received from El Buen," Hernandez said. "There are no words that could express how grateful I am that El Buen was there when I had no one to turn to."

Hernandez is just one of the thousands of individuals that come to El Buen for help when they have no one to turn to. Last year, El Buen provided Social Services to nearly 1,400 individuals and emergency food assistance to 14,017. For information on the Social Services Program, click here or contact LaVerne Rodriguez at (512) 439-0715 or lrodriguez@elbuen.org. For information on El Buen's food pantry, click here or contact Lil Almonte, director of health, wellness and disease prevention, at (512) 439-0734 or lalmonte@elbuen.org.