Having worked with a group of doctors focused on providing preventive care to the community, Dora Appling was familiar with Benjamin Rose when she picked up a marketing flyer at a health fair she attended earlier this year. Upon reviewing the information about the services provided by Benjamin Rose today, she called to get information about computer classes for seniors.

Connecting Our Seniors to Technology (COST) offers older adults free computer classes. Those who complete the program are eligible to keep the laptop they use in the class and receive an internet subsidy for up to one year.

“I’d worked on a computer but knew only the basics I needed to do my job,” says Ms. Dora. “After completing the COST program, I know so much more. I’m also using what I learned to further my education in other areas.”

Not one to sit dormant, Ms. Dora was forced to do just that when lingering issues from the COVID virus led her to retire in late 2021.

No longer working and dealing with chronic health issues, Ms. Dora began falling behind on paying some of her monthly bills including those for utilities and rent.

“I had no income until I began receiving Social Security disability payments,” she says. “Fortunately, the Financial Education Workshops offered by Benjamin Rose helped me develop a budget and take control of my debt.”

Ms. Dora also learned about some benefits for which she qualified. Benjamin Rose staff stepped in to advocate for her, helping to prevent her utilities from being turned off and establishing a payment plan that allows her to pay what she can afford monthly. They also connected her with the Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA2) program of the U.S. Treasury that was introduced after COVID to assist adults 55 and older living in Cuyahoga County with paying their rent.

While Ms. Dora continues to experience some COVID-related health flare ups, she’s determined to keep making the payments needed to pay off her debt, stay active and keep learning.

“There are other programs offered at Benjamin Rose that I plan to take advantage of, including one that helps with income tax preparation,” she says. “They’ve provided me with quite a bit of help over the past several months for a variety of things – help that was very much needed.”

Learn More About Our Housing and Financial Wellness Services

Benjamin Rose offers a range of programs and services to encourage housing and financial stability at every life stage. Discover how we can help you work towards more secure housing situation today!