Live Week: Rosana’s Story
Rosana Veloz stood at a crossroads, her heart heavy with loss and her future unclear and uncertain. A single mother and caregiver, she had always put family first, but life’s challenges tested her like never before. After losing her brother George to illness and her job as a caregiver almost back to back, Rosana faced the scary possibility that she may be facing homelessness. “I was on the verge of becoming homeless myself,” she shared with one of our housing case managers, Valerie. Yet, in her darkest moment, a referral from her property manager, Jose, at Norwalk Veterans Villas led her to Kingdom Causes Bellflower. A place and program she didn’t even know existed. “I didn’t think there were these types of services available to me,” Rosana said, her voice still shaking.
Before KCB, Rosana’s life was hanging in the balance. She lived with her daughter, trying everyday to provide stability while wrestling with grief herself. When her brother George, struggling with alcohol abuse after their mother’s passing, faced eviction, Rosana stepped in and tried to help. She planned to move in with him and pool their resources to be able to afford a new apartment. But tragically, the day before the move, she found George unresponsive in his car at a park. Despite her desperate attempts at CPR, he was gone. “I tried to wake him up, but I couldn’t,” she sadly remembered. Another issue was Rosana had already moved into the apartment but couldn’t cover the security deposit without George’s disability check.
With no job now and debt mounting, Rosana felt every door closing. That’s when KCB’s Norwalk Rental Assistance program, recommended by Jose after another tenant’s success, changed everything. When Rosana walked into the KCB Community Center, she met Valerie, whose kindness and patience gave her space to grieve and cry as she needed. “Valerie brought hope into me when she said I was eligible,” Rosana said. “She let me cry and just listened when I needed someone.” The moment she learned KCB would be able to cover her rent to avoid eviction, Rosana broke down in tears, thanking God for guiding her to help. “I walked out and called my kids right away to tell them I was being helped,” she said.
KCB’s support didn’t stop there. Through a partnership with Helping Hands Foundation, Rosana was connected to a case manager to help her find new employment and rebuild her financial stability. The impact was huge, stable housing gave her mental and physical peace, a foundation to process her trauma with privacy, and the strength to plan her brother’s funeral without worry. “Having a place to live means everything,” she said. “I finally have a sense of security, a safe place to call home.”
Rosana’s journey completely changed her view of the word “live.” Before, it was about survival, always looking out for her family as a single parent. Now, it means “finding yourself on rocky roads, building strength, and taking responsibility.” She credits KCB for showing her that resources do exist and wants to tell others not to lose faith. “Look around, research programs that can help.”
To KCB’s donors and partners, Rosana offers heartfelt thanks: “My prayers go to you for helping me.” At her age, when she thought opportunities were fading with each passing day, KCB proved otherwise. Now, Rosana dreams of peace, health, and financial stability, learning to budget and save for the future. “I’m still crying knowing there’s help.”
KCB’s rental assistance program opens doors for neighbors like Rosana, offering both housing assistance AND hope. You can support this life-changing work by donating at kcbellflower.org/give or calling 562-804-2189 to learn more. Join us in honoring neighbors like Rosana, whose strength and gratitude remind us what it means to truly live.
A big thank you to Valerie for the content in this story!
Until next time…