When a bad back sidelined her from work and her son in Canada developed a brain tumor, Wendy Smith sold everything and headed north to help him.
But then the Canadian government said that even though Smith had once been a resident, she had been gone too long and could not permanently stay.
Smith headed back to Sacramento. Jobless, homeless and adrift for the first time in her life, she lived in shelters, her back killing her.
Then, she found the Volunteers of America Independent Living Readiness Program. Today, she lives with several dozen other individuals in apartments on a quiet residential street.
Here, previously homeless men and women work toward self-sufficiency. In Smith's case, it means finding a way to get treatment so that she can quiet her back pain.
Once she can work, she will try to get the Canadian government's permission to live in Calgary, Alberta, with her son, who suffered a stroke after brain surgery.
The VOA program helps clients with a variety of needs, including some trying to get off drugs or alcohol. Clients can stay up to two years.
Money is tight for social service programs. Donations are down and help from government sources are drying up.
But there is one small but important service VOA managers of the Independent Living Readiness Program hope will continue.
It's called bed-in-a-bag. They want each newcomer to get their own sheets, comforter, pillow and towels. Smith got one when she came to the program.
"Many people come here with no personal belongings," said Nikki Stern, a VOA administrative assistant.
Sean McGlynn, VOA case manager, said, "For some, it may have been a very, very long time since they had their own comforter – as opposed to a shelter or jail blanket."
A bed-in-a-bag is important, said Smith, who has experienced fitful sleep caused by queen-sized sheets on a shelter bunk bed before she got to the VOA.
"I'm very lucky," said Smith, who volunteers at other charity programs while she lives at the VOA.
Needed: 50 bed-in-a-bags (with pillows and bath towels) Total: $3,000
Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.
