08/24/2026
Meet Jose and Maria Rivera, a sibling duo who we love dearly and have assisted since November of 2023 when they joined us for our Thanksgiving celebration. At the time, they were struggling to find stable housing, and due to health issues, needed support to obtain medication and more thorough care. In one of our first successes with Jose and Maria, we were able to move them into a new apartment in 2025 - moving in furniture to make it a home and installing railings to support Maria's mobility. We also coordinated physical therapy treatment from HomeHealthcare for Maria so she could continue her mobility rehabilitation, and assisted Jose when he was diagnosed with lung cancer so he could make it to every appointment. We were there every step of the way, and we cherish the ability to make their lives better.
However, we knew better was always around the corner. In 2026, FH was able to move Jose and Maria into a house near to our founder, Lisa Marshall’s home. This house has a yard, garden, and furniture, and is close by to the support networks they need to continue building on their health and independence.
We thank Jose and Maria for their trust in our organization and in our program, the Dignity First Initiative. We also thank our youth volunteers who were absolutely vital to Jose and Maria's journey - carrying and assembling furniture, assisting them in applying for Medicaid, and bringing a youthful joy to the whole experience. At FH, we are dedicated to making new homes and new hopes for all our clients, and are thrilled to have done so for Jose and Maria Rivera. ❤️