“What would I have done? My next step was homelessness.”
Caroline G. admits she thinks about that a lot after coming through a harrowing health scare that left her on the brink of financial collapse. The 78-year-old suffers from bipolar disorder and recently experienced what she describes as a manic attack that led to a five-week hospitalization.
“I was terrified,” Caroline said. “I’d never had anything happen like this before. In the middle of the night, I was struck with this psychotic episode. It woke me up, and I was in the hospital.”
Caroline is a psychotherapist, specializing in care for the transgender community. A little more than two years ago, Caroline’s office manager defrauded her and ended up going to prison. But her finances were left in shambles. So going weeks without income while she was in the hospital, only made things worse.
“I had a lien put against my place and I was within days of losing it to foreclosure,” Caroline said. “I was getting by on things like potatoes and pasta a friend had brought me from a food pantry.”
Caroline shared her struggles with a social worker at St. Luke’s. She was especially worried about an Evergy bill of more than $300 coming due soon, that there was no way she could afford to pay. The social worker offered a solution.
“She took the bill from my hand and said, ‘Let me contact United Way and see if we can get some help for you’,” Caroline shared.
Caroline qualified for assistance through United Way’s Critical Medical Needs program, a partnership made possible by utility providers Evergy and Spire. To date, more than 650 unique clients have been served, receiving an average of $1,000 in utility bill assistance each. The goal is to prevent disconnection or restore service for households where a health condition could be worsened without utility access.
“Oh God. It was amazing,” Caroline said. “It’s like–for a moment there is hope. I’ve let myself out of jail. Someone has taken my hand to walk me out of jail—that’s how it felt.”
Even with all she’s endured, Caroline counts herself lucky. And she’s exceptionally thankful to United Way for coming through with support in her time of need.
“It makes me cry to think about the people who give without thinking,” said Caroline. “Without you stepping in, I would have been completely helpless. I’d be out on the street. I would actually be dead. That’s not an exaggeration. Because without medication for my illness, I would be completely helpless. So I truly got saved by those who contribute and give to United Way.”
Give today to ensure critical life-saving support is always available when neighbors like Caroline need us.