At 64, Shari was at a crossroads when she came to Jewish Family Service of Metrowest (JFS). She was unemployed, not receiving unemployment benefits, and struggling to pay rent. Her situation was made even more dire by her inability to pay her Verizon bill, which left her without access to a phone or internet—vital tools for her job search. To add to her challenges, Shari was the sole caregiver for her 22-year-old daughter, who lives with Autism and Epilepsy.
Shari’s brother, who had been helping her financially, was diagnosed with cancer and could no longer provide the support he once was. This led to Shari’s car being repossessed, making an already tough situation even harder.
Thankfully, Shari had a friend step in who told her to call JFS. With JFS’ network of over 100 collaborative partners, Shari was able to get the assistance she needed.
Recognizing her need for financial guidance, her JFS Family Assistance case manager connected her with Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) and she was referred to a financial advisor who helped Shari develop a budget, manage her debt, and create a plan to adjust her expenses to better align with her resources.
But Shari’s needs went beyond financial advice—she needed immediate support. That’s when Yad Chessed, another one of JFS’ trusted partners, became involved. Yad Chessed specializes in assisting individuals in financial crises, and together with JFS, they provided Shari with critical aid. This collaboration helped cover her rent and bills and JFS worked with her to set up SNAP benefits to ease her grocery expenses. Yad Chessed even provided Shari with a free laptop, allowing her to continue her job search—an invaluable tool as she worked to regain stability.
Job searching, however, wasn’t easy for Shari. To address this, her case manger Dale from JVS coached her on interview strategies, including the “Post-It Note” technique, which helped Shari stay organized and focused during interviews. With Dale’s guidance, Shari gained confidence and improved her interview skills, empowering her to move forward in her search.
Unfortunately, Shari’s housing situation became more complicated when her landlord needed her apartment for his parents and she was facing eviction. Through persistence from the dedicated team at JFS, they were able to secure a unit she could afford through the partnership with the Framingham Housing Authority – a beautiful, newly renovated one-bedroom apartment for her and her daughter.
Through it all, JFS has been there for Shari—helping with referrals, completing applications, and guiding her through the financial assistance process. While her journey is ongoing, Shari’s resilience, combined with the unwavering support of JFS and collaborative partners such as JVS, Yad Chessed, and the Framingham Housing Authority has given Shari the tools she needs to build a more stable future.
JFS’s mission is to help people like Shari regain stability and independence. Every day, we are working to ensure that no one in our community faces these battles alone. Your support makes it possible for us to continue providing the resources, connections, and care that change lives.
How You Can Help:
Donate today to help JFS continue supporting individuals in financial crisis.
Volunteer your time and skills to make a direct impact on those in need.
Refer someone to JFS if they are struggling—whether it’s financial assistance, job search support, or housing guidance, we are here to help.
Together, we can make a difference!