Cynthia
Cynthia was born in the Bronx and her mother raised her and her two siblings. After moving to Los Angeles, she graduated from high school and gave birth to her first daughter. She moved back to New York when she was 19 and got a job in midtown Manhattan.

“I basically raised the baby myself,” Cynthia said. “My second daughter came in 1971. I had a lot of help then to raise my children including my first husband and another man. I was doing good.”

She followed her job to Florida but after a surgery one year and breast cancer the next, her life changed. Unable to work because of the chemotherapy, absent health insurance and drowning in medical debts, Cynthia had to give up her apartment and move back to Manhattan. After hopping from shelter to shelter, she ended up at Susan’s Place.

“I was given disability so I have an income,” she said. “I just received a voucher (Section 8) that will allow me to get housing. I went and looked at a place last week…I’m moving out of the shelter system.”

Cynthia is still going through radiation treatments due to ongoing medical issues but because of CFH, she is able to not only get the care she needs but also have a place to live.
“Thank God I’m here. I was able to get good medical care. I plan to help other people that are in this situation…I don’t see why people have to go through so much.”

See other stories at "Homeless Voices."