From the Pastor’s Desk

Dear St. Mary’s Parishioners:

                   This week, I would like to share with you some exchanges I had with a couple of our parishioners.  Miriam Sammartino is the Executive Director of Catholic Charities Yolo Solano (CCYOSO).  CCYOSO provides families and individuals with food access, housing assistance, counseling and immigration advocacy in Yolo and Solano Counties.  Recently, CCYOSO was tasked by Solano County to facilitate the distribution of federal government rental assistance to needy individuals and families on account of the pandemic.  Rocio Moreno, like Miriam, is a St. Mary’s parishioner. Rocio is also a Notre Dame School parent. She served as one of the case workers for the rental assistance program. 

Fr. Berg:  How was CCYOSO involved in providing rental assistance? 

Miriam Sammartino:  CCYOSO was given the task by Solano County to distribute federal funds for rental assistance in Solano.   Many home and apartment renters in Solano County have suffered economic hardship on account of the pandemic.  We began to process applications in mid-September.  After a very long four months, we distributed a total of $4,115,243.89 in rental assistance under the Solano County CARES Rental Assistance Program.  We helped over 1,300 households through this program. 

FB:  What is next for CCYOSO with regard to rental assistance?   

MS:  Under the Coronavirus Relief Package, the federal government allocated $25 billion to rental assistance.  Governor Newsom expects California to receive about $2 billion.  The California State Association of Counties has surveyed all counties to find out how each county would distribute these rental assistance funds.  Solano County indicated that CCYOSO would be the go-to agency since it is the only organization in Solano County to administer a county-wide multi-million dollar program.  While we do not have many details about these additional funds (i.e. how much funding, criteria for distributing, etc.), we do know is that the funds would need to be distributed by December 30, 2021.

FB:  What did you learn from the experience of helping folks in need of rental assistance? 

MS:  These past four months have been exciting, nerve-wracking, and filled with lessons.  One of my favorite quotes from Mother Angelica carried me through these past four months and inspires me as we start 2021: “I'm not afraid to fail.  I'm scared to death of dying and having the Lord say to me: This is what you might have done had you trusted more.”

FB:  As a volunteer helping applicants through the application process, what kind of situations did you encounter? 

Rocio Moreno:  The situations were very diverse.  Some applicants did not have access to electronic devices (computer, tablet or smart phone) to upload their information or to provide the verification documents.  Some did not have a car or, if they had a car, they did not have money for gasoline. Also, several families were afraid to apply due to their legal status or they thought, mistakenly, that they would go into debt because they thought the support was a loan rather than free assistance. Due to the COVID protocol restrictions in place, opportunities for families to turn in documents in person were very limited even though CCYOSO was prepared to offer the assistance in an appropriate and safe way. For many families, it was a struggle just to ask for the assistance in the first place.  These families were not accustomed to asking for help. It was a first for many, but the help was being offered because this situation hasaffected ALL of us, not just a few of us.

FB:  Can you think of any memorable situations?

RM: As an agency and as individuals newly hired to help with the application process, we faced many challenges.  The CCYOSO staff provided valuable training and served as wonderful supervisors.  Together, the CCYOSO staff and we newly hired aides formed a great team.  Indeed, the magnitude of being asked to distribute such a large quantity of financial assistance in a short period of time was new to all of us. As you can imagine, we had to address some difficult situations.  For example, some families were really struggling due to the loss of their income source combined with the loss of a relative or loved one due to COVID-19.  We saw that some of the applicants struggled with their emotional and mental health due to the stress of not being able to provide for their families.  Some suffered from severe depression and anxiety. Some were even suicidal. Others were inclined to take extreme actions to earn some income. Some individuals accused us of depriving them of help or calling the application process a scam which moved them to reject the aid.  Some landlords were unwilling to cooperate and some even threatened their renters with eviction despite legislation enacted during this time to protect renters from being evicted on account of the pandemic.  Some clients struggled to help themselves by not providing the required information.  Still, there were many positive developments such as people trying to do what they could to send us what we requested as soon as possible and landlords letting their tenants know about the assistance program and even passing the word on to other landlords.  So many applicants were grateful for even the possibility of being able to receive some help.  Many prayed for us, as well, so that we could do the work!

FB:  What did you learn from being a part of the rental assistance program?

RM:  I learned that despite being in difficult times, we humans are capable of greatness, of generosity and of rising above difficult situations. I will also say that, from my experience, I have seen how, in certain situations, women are stronger than men.  For example, I encountered several women who are now single parenting and facing divorce or abandonment from their husbands because the husbands could not handle the situation. The women endured the pain they encountered heroically and put the needs of their children above their own and kept going forward!  I learned that is okay to not be okay and to reach out for help when necessary. I learned that there are always ways to achieve what is necessary and that we can exceed our own limitations when the well-being of others is at stake. I learned that the gospel can be lived in any time and situation. I learned that the Word is a Living Word and that true justice is to give to others what they deserve or what they need whether they are the first to come in the morning or the last to arrive in the evening.  (cf. Mt 20:1-16)  God is a great “Employer”.  He, and CCYOSO in His name, make no distinction of race, creed, age, legal status or economic situation.  We took this to heart in carrying out our task.  In the end, we just did what charity requires of us all! 

To be sure, the pandemic has touched all of us in different ways. I express my gratefulness to Miriam and Rocio for sharing their experiences of working with our neighbors in need and I thank them for their good work!  May you have a blessed week!   

 In Christ,

Fr. Berg