CINCINNATI (August 2024) - Karen Bell had to do something. Her sister and her five children were in danger of becoming homeless. Despite being in a precarious financial situation herself, Bell helped pay their rent.

“Our family has always been a family that helps each other,” said Bell, who is 33 and lives in Over-the-Rhine. “Even if you’re down to your last, you’ve got to help each other.”

By assisting her sister’s family, Bell and her 17-year-old daughter nearly found themselves in the same situation.

“Eventually I fell behind on my rent,” said Bell, who works at a discount store and lives paycheck to paycheck. “I thought I could catch up. But I couldn’t. I cried. I knew I didn’t have the money to save my apartment. I knew if I didn’t get help, for sure I would be homeless.”

She sought help by calling the agencies on a list provided by her rental office. She got nowhere until she dialed United Way 211, the resource and referral helpline.

She spoke to a United Way Care Coordinator who determined that Bell was eligible for the Access to Counsel eviction-prevention program, which provides rent assistance and legal counsel to families facing eviction. In addition to United Way, partners are the city of Cincinnati, which funds the program, and Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati.

She is grateful that the program addressed her needs before she had to answer heartbreaking questions. “If I’m homeless, where’s my child going to go? What’s she going to think about her mom?”

Within two weeks, the balance on Bell’s rent was brought up-to-date and she began to regain her financial footing. “It made a big difference,” Bell said. “To be able to have a roof over our heads, that’s one thing we don’t have to worry about.”

What others who’ve received help through Access to Counsel are saying:

Natalie, 68, who fell behind on rent after her job was eliminated: “From the beginning of the whole experience, it was very positive, very straightforward, very helpful. (The program) helped with two months of my rent. It put me in a place where I’m able to take it from here. I’m very grateful.”

Nicole, 45, a single parent of three who faced eviction after her rent rose 45% within six months: “Before 211 got involved, there were several times I wanted to give up. The (Care Coordinator) was super nice and said I qualified for the program. A few days later Legal Aid said they would represent me in my eviction case. It came just in time. It was a godsend. I didn’t have to go to court. I didn’t feel like I was alone.”