Cynthia and her husband dreamed of building a better future — one where their children could get the medical care they urgently needed. In 2020, they made the courageous decision to leave everything they knew behind in Honduras and seek asylum in San Mateo County. Two of their three children suffer from serious medical conditions: their daughter, Emilia, was born with a genetic disorder that made it difficult for her to breathe and eat, and their son, Luca, lives with cerebral palsy and requires ongoing therapies. With limited access to advanced medical care in Honduras, staying was not an option.
“We came in the middle of the pandemic with nothing in our luggage, $200 in the pocket, and just hope,” Cynthia recalls.
Once they arrived, both parents worked full-time, but even with two incomes, it was a daily struggle to cover the basics — especially with two children needing specialized care. Realizing they needed more support, including a place to live, Cynthia reached out to Samaritan House.
“I found and I called Samaritan House. Our case manager helped me a lot. She helped us find the San Mateo shelter,” Cynthia says. “She explained all the programs Samaritan House has — like the food program, closet program, free clinics — and then Samaritan House helped us afford this apartment.”
Through Samaritan House, Cynthia’s family found much more than shelter. They received financial assistance to secure an apartment, monthly groceries, clothing, school supplies for their children, and access to free healthcare clinics, where they continue to get vital medical care. Ana, a staff member at Samaritan House, quickly became Cynthia’s lifeline. “I always call Ana when I need help. She makes sure I can get what I need,” she says.
“I feel super grateful because every month I have food, I have clothes, I have a doctor — I have almost everything.” Cynthia shares.
Luis Alarcon, a case manager at Samaritan House, sees transformations like Cynthia’s every day. “You encourage them that we are here to help. We’re helping people, changing lives,” he says. “Any support, anything that you can provide to anybody, is a big change.”
Now, when Cynthia meets other immigrants trying to find their footing, she never hesitates to send them to Samaritan House.
“Samaritan House made us feel like family,” Cynthia says. “I’m always so grateful. You can tell that your situation matters to them. It really makes you feel like you’re not alone.”
Thanks to Samaritan House, Cynthia’s family has a second chance at a healthier, more stable future — a testament to what’s possible when a community comes together to lift one another up.
