Dalia Dressler certainly does not act her age! In fact, few people would guess that this vibrant, chatty New Yorker was once a malnourished child in Berlin who came to this country as a Jewish refugee to escape the Holocaust.
Assisted by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, Dalia and her immediate family members were able to make do in a one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan and then go on to thrive in the Bronx and Yonkers. As a young woman, she moved to Greenwich Village, where at night she took acting lessons and attended film school, all while supporting herself through whatever sales and secretarial day jobs she could find.
“I’ve been in this rent-controlled, walk-up studio apartment for 20 years, the one before this for 24 years,” she says with pride and affection. “This is totally my neighborhood. It’s my home.”
Dalia knows she is lucky to have a rent-regulated unit. Nevertheless, she cannot afford to retire –
she relies on her work income as a real estate agent, as well as her Social Security and occasional SNAP (food) benefits, to keep her afloat.
Real estate, however, is a cyclical business, and recently Dalia needed assistance. “It was a slow period, and I had no money coming in,” she recalls, “so I called The Bridge Fund for help.” Since receiving a modest, short-term rent subsidy and a Whole Foods gift card, Dalia has been able to remain current with the rent. The Bridge Fund also made sure she registered for more affordable apartment lotteries run by the city, which might make a difference in the future. When asked to describe The Bridge Fund, Dalia thinks a bit then says, “The Bridge Fund is a very organized, professional group that cares. They really want to understand your situation. And they do not judge you. They understand you’ve slogged along; you’ve paid your bills and then you hit a snag. If I ever win the lotto, I will contribute to The Bridge Fund!”
“They [the staff at The Bridge Fund] understand you’ve slogged along; you’ve paid your bills and then you hit a snag.”