“Everyone goes through difficult moments. Being hardworking doesn’t protect you from a crisis. We are here to help, and no one should ever feel embarrassed for needing support.”
17 years ago, when Delia walked through the doors of Catholic Charities East Bay looking for help from our Immigration Legal Services team, she found more than assistance ─ she found someone who took the time to listen and help her move forward in life.
Encouraged by her immigration attorney, Delia applied for a front desk position at Catholic Charities, where she began her journey as part of the Catholic Charities team. A year later, she joined the Housing Services team.
Today, Delia has dedicated 16 years helping neighbors achieve housing safety and stability.
In almost two decades of housing work, Delia has watched the needs in our community shift dramatically. Today, she sees a growing number of seniors seeking housing support, especially after the pandemic. Many individuals are over 65 years old, some over 70, still trying to work just to survive. More families, particularly in the Latino community, are facing housing instability across both counties we serve. Some of the hardest moments in Delia’s work are also the most meaningful. “Sometimes all they need is five or ten minutes to be heard,” she says. “There is no rushing, no judgment. Just a team ready to listen.”
Today, Delia wants people to know that asking for help is not something to be ashamed of. “Everyone goes through difficult moments,” she says. “Being hardworking doesn’t protect you from a crisis. We are here to help, and no one should ever feel embarrassed for needing support.”
For Delia, Catholic Charities East Bay is proof that when people are met with compassion instead of judgment, lives can truly change.
