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RIVERSIDE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES | 27

Arlene Aljanich, 85

Claud Knapp, 89

ARLENE ALJANICH TURNED TO CRIS in August 2023 after leaving her son’s South Dakota home and returning to the Coachella Valley without a safe plan in place. She stayed with a friend while applying for the Housing Choice Voucher and was able to move into her own apartment in April 2024. Aljanich reconciled with her daughter soon after and, today, they visit together on a regular basis.

DESPITE BEING ALMOST 90-YEARS OLD , Claud Knapp had been experiencing homelessness for a year when he turned to CRIS for support in November 2023. In March 2024, Knapp signed a lease on a one-bedroom apartment home in Indio. Knapp is making new friends, enjoying his new apartment and has almost finished setting up his home gym.

Anna Paulino, 69

Arlie Suits, 70

ANNA PAULINO CAME TO CRIS at the end of the last fiscal year when she, her son and grandson could no longer afford their apartment and were forced to move out. The family was sleeping in their car and staying with friends when CRIS assisted Paulino in making a successful application for the Housing Choice Voucher. Despite multiple barriers, the family secured an apartment in May 2024 in Riverside’s La Sierra Heights neighborhood.

ARLIE SUITS WAS HOMELESS for more than 25 years. He’d spent the last 10 of those years focused on sober living. In January 2024, Suits received services from the APS CRIS team. By late March, he’d received the keys to his one-bedroom apartment. Today, Suits is receiving additional case management through the Office on Aging Senior Homelessness Integrated Partnerships (SHIP) program and enjoying the simple pleasures in life. He is most excited about not having to share his ice cream and getting to sleep in his own queen-sized bed.