“The winters were always the worst. I’ve always enjoyed the summertime, and that was even more important when I was on the streets.”
Catherine was born and raised in Chicago’s North Side. For years, she was able to make ends meet on tips she earned as a server at restaurants and taverns all over the neighborhood. Summertime and Cubs games often meant she’d go home with a little extra cash for her and her son – and a win meant an even luckier day for her family.
Today, she’s still on the North Side. Thanks to some help from the Chicago Housing Authority and her friend, Heartland Alliance Health’s Ryan Spangler, she’s enjoying the comfort and safety of a roof over her head regardless of whether baseball is on or not.
For almost five years, Catherine’s luck had about run out. A series of tragedies hit her family, losing some of her closest relatives and friends. Her family had split up and she quickly found herself on her own. Depression, anxiety, and a lack of support pushed her onto the streets of her North Side neighborhood and she started living in her car.
“I had all my clothes, my blankets, all of my stuff in there. My whole life was in that car. Then it broke down.”
Catherine soon found herself in a tent city and was able to remain on the North Side. For someone as warm and open as Catherine, making friends was easy. She would work when she could and found whatever means to make a quick buck or find something to eat. For years, she was able to survive on her own – but the winters only got colder.
It was about three years into her time on the streets that she first heard of Heartland Alliance Health. Some of Catherine’s friends would tell her of folks coming through the encampment, offering toiletries and other goods. Apparently, they were also helping people find housing.
“I would hear people talk about these folks who were helping some of us. They’d help them get healthcare, help them get their own homes. I wasn’t sure about it, didn’t know if it was a real deal.”
Eventually, a friend told her to go directly to the source – the HAH health center at the corner of Sheridan and Lawrence. Word on the street was it could get busy there, as they offered healthcare and other services absolutely free. She got to the center at 7 am to beat the line. That’s when she met Ryan Spangler for the first time.
“You know he’s a pretty serious guy, but you can tell he really cares,” Catherine said. “I remember just telling him how tired I was of being outside.”
From her first needs assessment on, Ryan was right beside Catherine on her path to rebuild her life. He connected her with a number of services and benefits. Most importantly, Ryan helped place Catherine on the city’s Coordinated Entry System – the digital waitlist that helps individuals find affordable and support housing.
There were a number of opportunities the two tried to pursue. There are housing services all across the city, each with a number of pathways toward housing – and each with their own requirements and steps. When one would fall through, Ryan was ready to take the next path. He was relentless.
At times, Catherine felt out of sorts about Ryan’s support and dedication. She almost stopped calling Ryan out of fear she was asking too much.
“Sometimes I felt like I was too much work, because it really was a lot of work to find housing. I didn’t want to be taking too much of his time. Ryan assured me that was actually the opposite,” Catherine said. “He wanted me – and everyone he was working with – to know he was there for us.”
This past December, Catherine got a call from Ryan. The Chicago Housing Authority had reached out and wanted her to come downtown for a voucher screening. In a state of disbelief, Catherine jumped on a train and met Ryan at the CHA offices. From then on, the process moved quite quickly. She sat through some trainings, signed a few documents, and was granted a voucher for housing.
Ryan and Catherine began house hunting almost immediately and it didn’t take long to find the perfect place.
“I just fell in love with the first apartment. They let me in a day early, which was great because it was just was so cold this past winter,” Catherine said. “I remember how happy I was, but I really remember just how happy Ryan was. I’m very thankful.”
They got her some furniture, and Catherine started to settle in. Catherine admits that the initial few weeks were a bit shocking. After years of being on the streets and having to fend for herself, settling down was a process. She was restless, and would often find herself pacing in her new apartment. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with herself.
Though it took work, Catherine was ready to put in the effort and rebuild her life. She began seeing a therapist once a week and started to reconnect with friends and family. Above all else, she was just so relieved to be out from the cold. A few months later, the cold became the least of her concerns.
“I’m not gonna lie, it was scary when the pandemic hit. It’s scary to move around and I’ve only got so much money to get by every month,” Catherine said. “I just do what I can to make sure I can keep going, and I can always trust Ryan will help if I need any.”
And he already has. Even as we all face social distancing measures and increased isolation, Ryan remains a constant in Catherine’s life. He’s already helped her receive her first COVID-19 response stimulus check and reaches out regularly.
Catherine spends her time during the pandemic reading and cooking. She speaks to friends and family over the phone. She has a few relatives that are struggling with similar issues that she’s gone through, and she likes to provide what guidance she can. This is her chance to take care of herself, and thanks to Ryan, she understands that she is worth fighting for.
“This is home now, and I’ve got Ryan to thank for that. Ever since that first day, he’s been there every step of the way. I feel confident today, and safe in my home. As long as I’ve got people like Ryan in my life, I know I’m going to be alright.”
