The Samanos give back while overcoming homelessness

By Marcela Beltran

For siblings John and Arlene Samano, starting over this past year has meant learning how to find stability again while leaning on each other. After their parents died in the winter of 2022, the siblings were left navigating not only grief, but also the complicated trust and estate their parents had left behind. The family home, which the siblings had been residing in, had been placed in a trust that John and Arlene were unable to access. 

While going through lawyers, expenses began accumulating, causing the siblings to struggle to keep up. Their income had come largely from businesses they operated out of the home, including coffee roasting and graphic design ventures. They sold their products online and often set up their own stand at swap meets, using the home as both a place to live and work.

John and Arlene lost access to their home and found themselves without a place to live and without the tools needed to making a living.

For the first time in their lives, they experienced homelessness, and life on the streets brought new challenges. The siblings often felt alone, harassed, and unsafe on the streets. Eventually, an acquaintance who lived in Arizona offered them help and bus tickets here, giving them an opportunity to start again.

For the first 3 years, they were able to find side gigs that allowed them to stretch their income and land on their feet. The two managed to live out of hotels, but eventually the cost became too much and they were forced onto the streets again.

“The day after my birthday, we had to leave whatever we had and just walk,” John said.

As they searched for a safe place to sleep, they found St. Vincent de Paul’s overflow shelter in the Phoenix Dining Room (PDR), which opens its doors in the afternoon after meal service to provide overnight shelter during periods of extreme heat.

At PDR, John and Arlene found more than a place to eat, sleep, and escape the heat. They found volunteers and staff who offered encouragement, support, and most importantly, a sense of belonging through their attention and dignified care.

“We feel the connection here,” Arlene said.

With help from SVdP’s navigators, John and Arlene were connected with a shelter that was a 10 minute walk from PDR, where they found a safe, stable, and fully resourced place to sleep while working towards more permanent housing options.

“We felt like we wanted to be closer, so that we can help with overflow. I think that being able to give something back to help is a lot,” said John. “It's a great way also to get your mind out of that state where you feel like you’re stuck.”

Their SVdP navigator, Ashley, has helped them navigate many of the practical challenges that come with rebuilding their lives, including helping them work on resumes, find appropriate clothing for job interviews, and connect them with transportation resources.

For John, reliable transportation has been especially important. Ashley helped him find a bike and later helped him obtain transit passes, making it easier for him to reach job interviews and other resources. 

SVdP has also connected them to job-training classes offered in partnership with Arizona OIC, and so far they have participated in food-handler and barista training. The programs provide free certifications that can give participants an additional credential as they pursue employment opportunities.

As John and Arlene began receiving support, they also discovered a love for volunteering. 

“The transition is nice from heat relief to volunteering,” Arlene said.

Over time, volunteering became an important part of their routine. The siblings now take time each day to volunteer at PDR, offering their time and energy to help others who may be facing some of the same challenges they have experienced while also finding comfort out of the sun during the dining room’s heat relief hours.

Although they still have many steps ahead of them and have hopes to one day reopen their past businesses once again, the siblings hold a happy outlook on their future and know that they have the support of their community.

“Please volunteer. It’s showing the people here that you care,” John said. “You can change their life because then you get to see what's really happening, not what other people are saying about homeless people.”