Thank all of you for your donations, well-wishes and prayers. It put a big smile on Dee Dee's face when I told her the good news of her GoFundMe and the generosity of your kind spirits. It has given Dee Dee new hope. She is $2,100 closer to her goal of a clean, safe, functioning new home.

People with low incomes rely upon social services and are impacted by the quality of those programs. Dee Dee has not had the best outcome for her housing. Her monthly Social Security payment is $800, with $280 going to her rent at Crystal Towers. To learn more about housing available to her in the social services system, namely the Winston-Salem Housing Authority, I spoke with the individual that manages this housing sector, including Crystal Towers. She told me all that was available was published on the HAWS site. And, if Dee Dee were interested in any of the options, she would need to get on the waiting list, just as anyone would. I sensed that the unique nature of Dee Dee's situation would not be a factor in solving her urgent need. The HAWS properties seemed not to be good options for her since they lacked safety and security for Dee Dee, who couldn't even raise a hand to protect herself from an assailant.

I also met with the missions minister of First Baptist on Fifth, where Dee Dee loves to attend church. As neighbors in downtown Winston-Salem, the church's staff works on some of the issues of Crystal Towers' residents. She reminded me of Dee Dee's advocacy for the renovation of the building. Her participation in the community meetings undoubtedly helped move the progress. Still, to date, city officials haven't given the residents a timetable for when the repair and renovation work will begin. The minister affirmed FBC's commitment to helping improve Dee Dee's living situation.

My friend who worked for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship shared her contact, Folks for Good Housing, a grassroots organization whose mission is focused on finding solutions to the housing crisis in Winston-Salem. I will be working on contacting this organization seeking a dwelling that may come from the private sector.

So my friends, please continue to give, pray, share and help in any way you may be able to help Dee Dee find a safe home solution.