When Trina speaks about her experience, her voice carries the weight of a thousand emotions—fear, hope, gratitude, and strength. “It means everything to still have a roof over me and my family’s head,” she says. For many, housing is a basic necessity. For Trina, it became the cornerstone of survival.
A mother of four daughters, with another child on the way, Trina’s life was turned upside down after a devastating car accident left her with an amputated leg. The physical trauma was only the beginning. The accident forced her out of work, stripped her of her independence, and plunged her family into financial instability. “It changed the whole dynamic for me,” she explains. “I had to alter everything.”
Suddenly, Trina found herself navigating the world with a disability, applying for jobs that could accommodate her new reality, and trying to secure workplace accommodations—all while caring for her children, one of whom was frequently hospitalized due to seizures. Then came the eviction notice.
“I came home from the hospital and was given an eviction notice,” she recalls. “That was the hardest thing I think I’ve ever had to go through.” The timing was cruel. Her children had just been discharged from the hospital, and instead of settling into the comfort of home, they were met with the threat of losing it.
Trina’s situation was dire. She was overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure of where to turn. That’s when she received a call from Aloha, a caseworker with the Keep People Housed – Solano program. “As soon as she heard my voice, she just started crying,” Aloha remembers. “I knew I was calling at the right time.”
That phone call marked the beginning of a transformation. Aloha and Trina worked together, side by side, to gather the necessary documents and navigate the eviction process. “It was a team effort,” Aloha says. “We hit the pavement together.”
Keep People Housed was able to provide Trina with $5,000 in emergency rental assistance—enough to stop the eviction and stabilize her housing. “When I saw Aloha stop all of that, my heart just dropped,” Trina says. “I was so speechless. I just knew that was going to change everything.”
And it did.
Trina’s mental state shifted from relentless stress to cautious optimism. “I went from stress, stress, stress to feeling blessed,” she says. The support she received wasn’t just financial—it was deeply human. “The empathy was over the top,” she adds, crediting United Way and Keep People Housed for helping her reclaim hope.
For Trina, the assistance meant more than just staying housed. It meant being able to focus on her children’s health, her own recovery, and rebuilding her life. “It gave me the confidence to feel like I’m going to be okay, and that my family is going to be okay.”
Her story is a powerful reminder of how quickly life can change—and how vital it is to have support systems in place. “Everybody needs housing,” Aloha says. “There’s a big population in Solano County facing eviction. We’re trying to break that.”
Programs like Keep People Housed – Solano are doing more than just preventing homelessness. They’re restoring dignity, stability, and the belief that a brighter future is possible. “We should have more programs like this,” Trina says. “I needed the help now to get me on my feet.”
Today, Trina is focused on moving forward. She’s continuing to seek employment that accommodates her disability, caring for her children, and building a future for her family. “This put a start to it—not just for me, but for my girls and my partner,” she says. “I feel like we’re going to be okay. I do feel like my future is going to be bright.”
Trina’s journey is one of resilience, motherhood, and the power of community. It’s a story that reminds us that behind every eviction notice is a family fighting to stay together—and that with compassion and support, we can help them do just that.
If you know of someone in Solano County who is facing eviction, let them know about United Way California Capital Region’s Keep People Housed – Solano program.