DPSS 20-21 FY Annual Report

Annual Report 2020/2021

Adult Services

Edwina Edwina’s apartment is a cozy spot. But the road to settling into that apartment was a long one, full of twists and turns for the 80-year-old woman.

she was living when Melissa Torres, a Riverside County Adult Protective Services (APS) social worker, met her in late 2019. And that’s when the search for permanent housing began. Torres and Edwina worked together to complete applications for Section 8 housing, Medi-Cal and CalFresh. While they waited for the applications to process, she became eligible for Project RoomKey — a program that provides safe, temporary shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. A couple months later, thanks to Torres’ painstaking efforts to get all the documentation in order, Edwina was approved for section 8 housing and moved into an apartment. She even began receiving In Home Supportive Services (IHSS), which allowed her to hire a caregiver. Today, Edwina is thriving. She has all the benefits she needs to keep her safe and secure.

Many years ago, Edwina was living in Big Bear as a live-in caregiver. However, when the gentleman she cared for passed away, Edwina was left without a home or income, all in one fell swoop. Edwina has never been married, never had children, and reported not having any kind of support network. This is when she entered her first homeless shelter. However, as her health started to decline, she entered a skilled nursing facility. Unfortunately, the facility couldn’t serve as a permanent home for Edwina, and she didn’t have anywhere to go. The streets are no place for anyone — especially an elderly woman in a wheelchair. After an assault, Edwina found temporary shelter at the Path of Life homeless shelter. That’s where

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