Gregory and Delaha were so excited to move to Phoenix with their 3-year-old sun Marcus. They lived in a rough neighborhood in Tolido, Ohio and had been hoping for years to move to a better place. Gregory was the maintenance manager of their apartment complex and struggled to find another job that would pay enough for them to move out.
“I wanted a better environment for my family,” Gregory said. “I wanted to change our lives.”
That’s why they jumped on the opportunity to move to Phoenix when Gregory’s brother offered him a job at the construction company where he managed a team of workers. Gregory’s brother also offered for them to stay with him until they would be ready for a place of their own.
It all seemed like a good plan. However, a few weeks after Gregory moved his family out to Phoenix, his brother was unexpectedly laid off from his job.
“I was devastated,” Delaha said. “I cried every night.”
Without any prospects for other jobs, Gregory called his former employer in Tolido and was offered his old job back. However, they used their last savings to move out to Phoenix and had no way to get back.
They came to St. Vincent de Paul and was approved for travel assistance the same day.
“We had no way to get home and nowhere else to go. We would’ve become homeless without St. Vincent de Paul,” Gregory said.
Using gifts cards provided by U.S. Airways, volunteers helped Gregory and Delaha make travel arrangements to get home to Tolido.
“St. Vincent de Paul saved our lives,” Gregory said. “Our family couldn’t help us. St. Vincent de Paul was our family when we had nobody left. I hope that one day I’ll have the chance to give back and help other people like us.”
SVdP’s Transient Aid Center is located at our main campus at 420 W. Watkins Rd. Visit our website for more information on the program.
