Felita Finds her Footing with HomeFirst
"With HomeFirst’s support, Felita moved to a studio apartment in a beautiful building in Mountain View."
In 2016, Felita visited Uganda, and from that moment, she knew she would one day move there – it felt like home. In 2019, three years later, she took the leap. She purchased a piece of land, built a small house, and planned to stay there forever. Living in what she describes as the Garden of Eden – a lush, hilly town in the south of the country - she didn’t imagine that in 2020 everything would change.
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On March 1, 2020, Felita landed in California. She had flown to the U.S. for a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) meeting that had to be taken in-person. The meeting was short - only five minutes - but she planned to see friends while in town. Her flight back to Uganda was a few weeks away.
Felita
The onset of COVID derailed Felita’s plans. Borders closed, and travel was delayed, and by the time she was cleared to fly, Felita was homeless and could not afford the trip. Only partially reimbursed for her cancelled flight and burdened by medical costs, she lacked funds for a ticket home or housing in Santa Clara County. Felita lived in a trailer in Fremont, then a motel, until she connected with HomeFirst. With our support, she moved to our interim housing site, Bernal.
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Felita’s time at Bernal was emotionally challenging, but she was grateful to have a safe place to live during the pandemic. She hoped to regain financial stability, and move back to Uganda, but with the state of her health, her doctor did not recommend this. Accepting this, Felita worked actively with her HomeFirst Case Manager, Cristian, to secure housing in Santa Clara County. He approached her with compassion, learned about her health concerns, assisted with transportation, and worked with her to find a permanent home.
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With HomeFirst’s support, Felita moved to a studio apartment in a beautiful building in Mountain View. Her case manager, Cristian, helped her obtain HomeFirst financial assistance which covered her first month's rent and security deposit, making the move possible. She also received an Exit-to-Housing kit filled with cleaning supplies, bedding, and other essentials. These vital items - generously supplied by our donors – made it easier for Felita to make the transition into her new apartment.
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Felita loves her unit! She decorated the space to feel personal and cozy, invites friends over, and enjoys cooking homemade meals. We're pleased that Felita is happily settled in Santa Clara County and hope she can one day fulfill her goal of returning to Uganda to visit the town and people she loves.
Last Updated 2025