Herndon-Reston FISH
Friendly Instant Sympathetic Help
PEOPLE WE HAVE HELPED*
Jane is a single mother in her late 20s who has five children between the ages of three and 11. She lost her job after missing work for three days, which resulted from the fact that her children’s father ran away with the kids. Jane suffered a stroke as a result and was in the hospital for nine days. She was reunited with her children when she got out of the hospital, and she is now working full-time and receiving child support. Even so, she has struggled to get back on track because of her medical bills and court expenses. She was also facing the prospect of being evicted, although she is now on a waitlist for low-income housing. She needed help to pay her back rent and utilities. FISH provided $2,300 to assist with rent and utilities.
Cynthia, a woman in her early thirties with a teen-age child, requested help with rent. Because of an error regarding her place of residence, her wages were garnished in March for unpaid property tax in Loudoun County, even though she has been a Fairfax County resident for over a year. Cynthia was to receive a refund, but the process was going to take12 to16 weeks. Hence, she need help to cover the current cost of rent. Cynthia has a stable full-time job, and she is exploring additional part-time employment opportunities. She has also applied for child support to increase the family income. FISH was able to help Cynthia in the amount of $1500, with the expectation that with this help she would be able to achieve a stable situation.
Joe is a recent immigrant from Afghanistan. He and his wife, who are in their late 30s, have four children between the ages of three and 13. The family moved into Fairfax Country in November 2023. After living at a relative’s house for a couple of months, the family was able to reach a stable situation. Joe is employed and was able to sign a lease for a home in Herndon in March 2024. He is currently looking for higher-income employment in his field. But the family needed financial assistance because their entire savings had to be allocated to pay the security deposit and the first month’s rent. The family needed assistance to cover the rent, and FISH was able to provide $2300. The expectation is that with this assistance the family will be able to achieve financial stability and move forward after this difficult period in their lives.
Margaret, a woman in her mid-40s was recently widowed. She is currently employed only part-time. She faced multiple extra expenses and was at risk of having her electricity cut off. She was able to pay half of the electric bill on a date of the service cut off, and she made arrangements to pay the rest on a sixth month payment plan of $14 per month. FISH was able to help with the situation by providing assistance in the amount of $108.
*Names have been changed to protect confidentiality. Photos are not of clients.