When Miguel Rivera woke up intubated in the Intensive Care Unit at Jefferson Hospital, he had no memory of what happened or why he was there. When he became conscious, he learned the devastating news that his life, quite literally, had gone up in smoke.
While he was sleeping, the apartment building where Rivera had lived for seven years burned down. He lost everything, including his beloved dog. Because of the smoke inhalation, his lungs had been permanently damaged.
The fire that raged through Rivera’s three-story apartment building on Cramer Street in Camden around 3 a.m. on Oct. 25 left two of his neighbors dead, 18 injured and close to 50 others without a home.
After two weeks of fighting for his life in the ICU, Rivera was eventually discharged and was able to temporarily move in with his sister, Maria. But he needed a place of his own.
That’s when Maria reached out to Catholic Charities on behalf of her brother, who was still weak and recovering, physically and mentally. Maria was immediately put in touch with Jose Sanchez, one of Catholic Charities’ disaster case managers.
“Miguel was traumatized and still so sick. We explained the whole story to [Sanchez], and he listened and said that he’d call us back,” Maria explained. “Not even an hour went by before he called to tell us that he found an efficiency room for my brother. We just praised the Lord,” she said, fighting through tears.
Maria recounted the story on Nov. 9, translating for her brother, as they sat in his new home at the Village Apartments of Cherry Hill on Saint Mary’s campus, one of eight properties managed by The Diocesan Housing Services Corporation of the Diocese of Camden (DHSC).
Earlier that day, Catholic Charities staff moved new, donated furniture into the apartment as Karen Zayac, property manager, DHSC warmly welcomed Miguel to the community and oriented him to the complex and its amenities.
Both Miguel and his sister marveled at the assistance he received from Catholic Charities and DHSC.
“They guided us through the whole process, it was so fast,” she said. Motioning around the well-lit, newly-furnished apartment, she added, “This is even bigger than his old place! No one does what you guys do. I’ve given out Catholic Charities’ phone number to several people who I know are struggling.”
Jose Sanchez credited Katherine Boyer, property management director of DHSC, for her readiness and speedy response. He said, “After I heard about Miguel’s situation, I briefed Katherine immediately. Only a few minutes later, she was at my desk, saying that she has a unit for him.”
Miguel Rivera was just one of 20 households who had lost their home to the fire. Of the 20 families affected, Catholic Charities has worked with 14, according to Sanchez, who has been in touch with each family, assessing their needs and working to find them new homes and furnishings.
Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic relief agency of the church in the U.S., recognized the severity of the situation and offered $10,000 to Catholic Charities, Diocese of Camden in disaster relief funding for these clients. Because of this national financial assistance, along with money raised by Catholic Charities’ Justice for All fund, three families have already moved into new homes, while others have been able to stay in hotels while Catholic Charities staff work with them to secure new permanent housing.
According to Jose Sanchez, who has worked with victims of disasters for years, “When I talk to the families, I try to take the time to listen to their story. The fire is one big story, but each of these families have their own unique story and set of challenges. We are here to listen when they are most vulnerable, and we assure them that even though while things may not ever be the same, we are here for them, and there is hope.”
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