For nearly a decade, Immanuel, a retired Army Veteran, and Yolanda, a retired elementary school teacher, enjoyed the comfort and stability of their rental home. Though on a month-to-month lease, their long-standing relationship with their landlord and their sense of home made them feel comfortable and secure. So comfortable and secure, in fact, that they often helped their loved ones by providing them financial support when needed.

That sense of security was shattered when their landlord suddenly informed them they’d be raising the rent by several hundred dollars and if they couldn’t pay it, they’d have to leave. With limited time and very few options, Immanuel and Yolanda were forced to leave the home they had created together and move in with their adult children and their families. To make matters worse, one of their vehicles broke down and other expenses began accumulating.

Though their family welcomed them with open arms, the couple knew this arrangement couldn’t last forever. It was actually their children's and grandchildren's generosity and acceptance that motivated them to find another way forward. Yolanda recalls it was when her granddaughter told her that she didn't mind if she slept in her bed that she made the decision that staying there wasn’t an option. She understood how it felt to have your life suddenly disrupted and knew her children and grandchildren needed their normal spaces and routines to thrive.

But finding another place to stay wasn’t easy. All the shelters they explored only accepted men or women—or didn’t allow couples to stay together. Immanuel and Yolanda refused to separate and even considered sleeping in their car. They couldn't bear the thought of not being together to protect and lean on one another – especially during one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through.