🎉 HSSA Celebrates Two Years with Annual Fundraiser
On November 1, 2025, HSSA marked its second anniversary with a fundraiser/Maker’s Market at Travis Flats Apartments. This year’s celebration featured a lively makers market showcasing the talents of HSSA residents and supporters. From vegan banana pudding to miniature toys and artful doormats, the creativity on display was inspiring.
Board members, staff, families, and friends joined in the festivities while DJ Deebo kept the energy high. One resident vendor’s success story stood out: her son proudly shared that she earned $300 from her handmade goods—enough to make their holiday season brighter.
Thanks to generous ticket buyers and vendors who donated proceeds, HSSA raised nearly $20,000 to support our mission.
📅 Save the date: our next fundraiser will be held on Saturday, November 7, 2026. We look forward to making this annual tradition even bigger and better!
HSSA is proud to have provided nearly $200,000 in emergency rental assistance to families in need. Our eviction prevention program not only pays off past-due balances but also helps households get ahead by covering part of the next month’s rent. We pair this support with financial coaching and co-created plans to encourage responsible income use, debt reduction, and even emergency savings. When households commit to these goals, we match their efforts with rental payments.
Because our funding is flexible, we can respond creatively to unique situations. Recently, a resident expecting her first child approached us—not behind on rent, but facing 90 days of unpaid maternity leave. Without income, she knew she would fall behind. Together, we designed a plan: each paycheck before her due date, she contributes $600 and HSSA matches it. By the time her baby arrives, her rent during maternity leave will be fully prepaid.
We know that financial stress during pregnancy can harm both mother and child, and we want families to focus on health and stability. While it may be more fun to buy baby clothes and toys, this mom understands that securing housing comes first. By following through with our plan, she’ll bring her newborn home to a safe, paid-for apartment and spend her first months of motherhood focused on bonding, not bills.
As we remind all our families: Housing Prioritized, Housing Stabilized.
🐾 New Partnership: Tarus Dog Training Academy at Cady Lofts
For years, apartment managers and owners have voiced concerns about the ease of obtaining online Emotional Support Animal certificates. HSSA Board Member John Murphy likes to say, “If you can’t turn it off, turn it up!” — so we’re doing just that.
We’re thrilled to announce that Tarus Dog Training Academy is coming to Cady Lofts!
Together, we’ll work with residents to strengthen their bond with their pets and ensure responsible, loving care. Tarus will provide training in key areas such as obedience, socialization, and safe handling.
Beyond training, we’re pursuing grant funding to expand support for pet-owning households. Our goals include:
Supplying dog food through our food pantries
Covering annual vet visits and vaccines
Providing essential equipment like leashes, dog beds, muzzles, and crates
This initiative is another example of how HSSA is finding creative solutions to help families — and their furry friends — thrive.
Eviction Prevention Beyond the Checkbook
We are proud of all the financial assistance we have provided for eviction prevention and housing stability, but sometimes, stability means more than covering rent—it means rolling up our sleeves.
On Monday, November 24, 2025, one of our residents faced eviction—not for nonpayment, but because her home had become unsafe. An amputee who uses a wheelchair, she fell and required assistance from the fire department, who then contacted HSSA about the condition of her unit. In response, property management issued a lease violation with a cure period—an action necessary given the circumstances. With the clock ticking, immediate intervention was critical.
This resident is part of our community. She attends every event, every pantry. She trusts us. Having experienced homelessness before, she was terrified of losing her home again.
Instead of writing a check, eviction prevention looked like:
13 hours of hands-on work
A five-person cleaning crew
A borrowed truck and five loads of trash hauled away
Volunteers stepping in to help with animals and logistics
Just under $1,000 in costs
We learned valuable lessons: next time, we’ll plan for temporary housing, pest control coordination, a clearer trash strategy, and replacement of basic items. Nearly everything had to be discarded due to infestation.
Most importantly, we were reminded that eviction prevention is about people, dignity, and stability. The real work continues now—through ongoing case management, support, and helping this family maintain a safe home.
