Overcoming homelessness is a steep climb, but for Crystal O-Roy and her family of 11, there's now a light at the end of the tunnel thanks to concerted efforts from local Sacramento organizations. A series of financial setbacks after a divorce left O-Roy, her 10 children and grandchild without a roof over their heads. The family was evicted from their Antelope home due to unpaid rent, forcing half of them into a car and the rest into a tent for shelter. "It was very horrible," O-Roy told Sacramento City Express.
Facing these hardships, even as she and her three eldest children worked, maintaining stable employment was a challenge, especially without a permanent address. On the streets, constantly moving from place to place, they struggled to find stability. In late August 2024, hope resumed cooking up after an encounter with outreach workers from Hope Cooperative, part of the City of Sacramento's response to homelessness sparked by 311 calls. These workers referred them to the City's Outreach and Engagement Center (OEC) for immediate assistance including temporary shelter and food, as reported by the Sacramento City Express.
Remaining steadfast through this period, O-Roy and her family received crucial support from various organizations that collaborate with the City's initiatives to combat homelessness. Sacramento Steps Forward, Lao Family Community Development, and Lutheran Social Services each played a part in the O-Roy family's journey back to stable housing. After several months at the OEC, the family moved into a new home in Carmichael. Agustin Ramirez, a former Hope Cooperative worker who helped the family and currently serves as a Neighborhood Resource Coordinator told Sacramento City Express, "The journey was not easy, but it showed the power of community coming together for the greater good."
Reflecting on their experience, O-Roy credits persistence and community support for their transition out of homelessness. "Staying hopeful and not giving up" is her advice to others in similar plights. She underscores the importance of maintaining employment, if possible, given it "provides a sense of stability and can make a bigger difference than you realize." O-Roy’s resilience is echoed in the collaborative spirit of the organizations that banded together to lift her family from the depths where resources, advocacy, and long-term stability restored their flight toward a home, according to her statements obtained from Sacramento City Express.
