Patient Spotlight: Linda
Linda never imagined she would be homeless. For more than two decades, she lived in the same apartment, built a life with her husband, and maintained a steady job. But when her husband passed away, everything changed. The rent became impossible to afford on her own, and suddenly, she found herself without a place to call home.
Despite losing her housing, Linda still had a car and a job. “I was living in my car for two months,” she recalls. “Every day, I faced harassment. People don’t understand what it’s like—they assume you must be an addict or that you did something wrong. But I was just trying to survive.”
Linda’s situation took a turn when she reached out for help. She was referred to Mercy House, a shelter providing transitional support. Though the shelter gives her a roof over her head, life is still far from easy.
“There’s no privacy when you’ve got 38 women in a dorm,” she says. “I’m grateful for my car because I can at least drive to the beach and take a moment to breathe.”
A lifeline through Share Ourselves
Long before Linda became unhoused, a friend told her about the Share Ourselves Food Pantry in Costa Mesa. She began visiting the Food Pantry in 2018, noting that it’s been a huge help to her over the years. “Sometimes, you just need a little extra to get by.”
After moving into the shelter in 2022, Linda was happily surprised to see Share Ourselves again. The Share Ourselves Health Mobile travels to various shelters throughout Orange County, providing medical care to those in need.
“When you don’t have a stable home, getting to a doctor’s office can be really difficult. But with the mobile unit, I don’t have to worry about how to get there—it’s right there when I need it.”
Because it’s so convenient, she now receives medical care on a regular basis. “Everybody’s so nice,” she says with a smile. “I know them by name, and they know me. It makes all the difference.”
Another resource that has made a difference for Linda is 2-1-1, a helpline dedicated to connecting people with local services, such as counseling, housing, food assistance, and more. “The Share Ourselves team told me about 2-1-1—I didn’t even know it existed.”
Giving back and moving forward
Despite the struggles she has faced, Linda continues to give back. She’s employed as a caregiver for Visiting Angels, assisting seniors in their homes. “I love it,” she says. “Just making someone breakfast in the morning and seeing how much they appreciate it—it makes my day.”
Linda’s journey is a testament to strength. She has endured loss, hardship, and the judgment of those who don’t understand her story. But she continues to move forward with grace and determination. “People say, ‘Linda, you’re a diamond in the rough,’” she shares. “I don’t drink, I don’t do drugs—I just ended up in a tough situation. It can happen to anyone.”
Her biggest goal now? To have a place of her own. “I just want to be able to close my door and have my own space,” she says. “I’m ready.”
Until then, she holds onto hope, supported by the kindness of strangers, the dedication of organizations like Share Ourselves and Mercy House, and her own unbreakable spirit. “I’m not into drama,” she says with a laugh. “I just focus on myself, help where I can, and keep going.”
Linda’s story is a powerful reminder that homelessness comes in many forms — it can happen to anyone, at any stage in life. Through community support and innovative programs like the Share Ourselves Health Mobile, people like Linda can receive the healthcare and support they need when they need it most.
In Orange County, many individuals and families are facing an increasingly difficult reality. The impacts of factors like inflation, economic instability and cost of housing have made it harder than ever to make ends meet. For many, the struggle to maintain basic needs—housing, healthcare, food—has become a daily challenge.
Amidst these tough times, Share Ourselves is committed to offering steady care, providing resources and support to those navigating periods of transition and hardship. Linda’s story is one example of how, with the right care and a helping hand, it’s possible to move forward even in the face of overwhelming adversity.