Joy Volkov came to New York City from Russia as a teenager. She has lived in her current rent-stabilized apartment in Brooklyn for over 10 years. She says hers is a clean, safe, friendly community with access to a nice park. It’s where she wants to be. “I don’t think I could live anywhere else. I became a citizen a long time ago. I consider myself a New Yorker.”
Now in her late 30s, Joy never thought she could become homeless. She had always supported herself as an office worker, a hairdresser, and sometimes doing sales. But in 2022 she lost her job and got behind in rent. As a freelancer, she was not eligible for unemployment, and she never applied for welfare, assuming she’d soon be back at work. Wisely, she decided to prepare herself for reliable employment in health care. “I did the training for the New York State Certificate to be a Home Health Aide. So then I was working steadily, but I could not get on top of the back rent.”
Joy started paying her monthly rent in full, but the landlord commenced eviction proceedings and she had to go to housing court. “I was very scared, intimidated, and depressed … You have to stand up in front of people and talk in court. That was uncomfortable for me. I called and apologized to the landlord.” The Court could see she was trying and pushed back her eviction, but Joy still needed help. The Homelessness Prevention Helpline sent her to The Bridge Fund. Financial assistance that included an interest-free loan was provided. Joy remembers she could finally breathe. “Without The Bridge Fund, it might have taken me another year at least.” And she might have lost her home.
Joy says, “The Bridge Fund is a group of understanding and kind people. Now I’m making my monthly payments with pleasure and gratitude.” Today, she is seriously thinking of training to become a nurse or medical assistant instead of worrying about being evicted.