Camilla came to St. Paul’s Center earlier this year, pregnant with her first child after fleeing domestic violence. Although Camilla couldn’t work as a result of a disabling condition, our staff was able to secure $807 per month in income made up of benefits Camilla didn’t know she qualified for through state and federal programs. Optimistic for her future, Camilla was ready to save her new income so that she could leave homelessness behind and move into a new apartment of her own.

Camilla’s plans of leaving shelter before giving birth to her daughter were soon derailed when she received a letter from the County informing her that she was now responsible for paying $769 in “rent” to continue living in shelter, leaving her with only $38 each month.

Feeling confused and hopeless, Camilla showed the letter to our shelter director, Shay, who, unfortunately, had seen this happen to countless mothers before Camilla. Frustrated, Shay explained to Camilla that she would only be able to save up a fraction of what she had originally planned. 

Just when she thought things couldn’t get any worse, Camilla received her housing budget from the County, the benefit she would receive upon leaving shelter to pay rent and utilities — $388. Somehow, Camilla was expected to find a one-bedroom apartment for just $388 per month including heat.

“How is this possible?” Camilla asked staff, “How can they expect me to find anyone to willing to charge me such low rent for an apartment that’s not in poor shape or in a dangerous neighborhood?” Again, our Client Advocate wasn’t surprised; unfortunately, extremely low housing budgets have become the norm for low-income and homeless families throughout the United States.

With this new information, Camilla understood why so many of the other families at the Center have been homeless for months. How could the County expect her to save up any money for a security deposit or the rent gap when all they were leaving her with was $38 a month?

Unfortunately, this is the story for too many families who find themselves homeless in the Capital Region. During a time when mothers are simply trying to get back on their feet, they are instead beaten down emotionally and financially by the very system intended to lift them up.

Now, Camilla has found an apartment she can afford, has toured the unit, and the landlord has agreed to rent to her. Only one challenge still stands in her way; the security deposit. 

This is why the support of our community is so important. Without our generous donors, Camilla would need to save every penny for over 18 months, just to be able to afford the security deposit on an apartment that falls below Fair Market Rent.

To support Camilla, and other families in this situation, please consider making a donation to St. Paul’s Center to help cover the expense of security deposits that stand in the way of a family’s chance of moving into a home of their own.

¹Moscowitz, M. (2018). Turn up the heat: It’s time to raise New York’s shelter and fuel allowances. Empire Justice Center.

²Markee, P. (2002). Housing a growing city: New York’s bust in boom times. Coalition for the Homeless, 2, 81-85.