Meet Bessie

Bessie, age 71, had been experiencing homelessness for several years when she met Tom, one of Tenfold’s Outreach Workers.  

Bessie is the mother to three adult children. Originally from New York, she lived in Lancaster for most of her adult life and raised her children here. She had been living in her home for eleven and a half years when it was condemned, beginning a long period of housing instability and eventually homelessness. “I never, ever thought of myself being homeless, but it did happen,” Bessie shares. “I ended up out on the street.”  

By August of 2023, Bessie was regularly sleeping on the streets of Lancaster City. Bessie has difficulty walking and uses a power wheelchair or a walker to get around, which made being on the street especially challenging. She constantly felt vulnerable and frightened.  

Then, in March of 2024, Bessie met Tom, a Tenfold Outreach Worker. Tom provided Bessie with supplies and began trying to find her housing. “He got me a sleeping bag so I’d be warm, he brought me snacks so I wouldn’t be hungry, he made sure I had shampoo and soap so at least I could clean myself up,” Bessie shares. Most importantly, Tom helped Bessie feel less alone. “While I was out on the street, he’d call me to see where I was at, and he’d come and talk with me,” she says. “It helped a lot to know that somebody really cared. Tom is just a wonderful person.”  

During this time, Tom continued searching for housing that would meet Bessie’s needs, but it was very difficult to find an ADA accessible unit that she could afford. As the weather became colder, Tom was constantly worried about Bessie’s safety.  

Then, in November of 2024, Tenfold transformed its garage into a temporary shelter, offering individuals experiencing homelessness a safe place to sleep at night during the cold winter weather. The night the shelter opened, Tom picked Bessie up and drove her to Tenfold. She needed a safe place to stay, but she was also nervous. In some ways, sleeping in a room full of strangers was more frightening than sleeping on the street alone. “I was scared at first,” she says.  

Tom recalls this moment, sharing “She was terrified, to the point of tears. I was well past the point I should have clocked out, but these are the hardest moments as an Outreach worker– when you say to yourself, ‘would this person be okay if I left them right now?’ and do not know the answer.” Desperate, Tom got out of the car and began introducing Bessie to other people waiting in line for the shelter, most of whom he already knew. They immediately greeted Bessie warmly, shared blankets with her, and encouraged her to go to the front of the line. 

“These are the greatest moments as an Outreach worker,” says Tom, “when you say to yourself, ‘these people are more kind, empathetic, and resilient than even I give them credit for,’ and remember that the only real difference between their lot in life and yours is contingency.”  

Bessie stayed at the shelter that night and quickly became comfortable with the Tenfold staff and volunteers. “They were all just wonderful people there,” she says. She continued to sleep at the shelter for the next several months. As one of the oldest shelter guests, Bessie was adopted by many others, who called her “mom” or “grandma” and would wait for her at the bus stop to ensure she made it into the shelter each night.  

However, the problem of finding Bessie permanent housing persisted. Tom continued searching for a good option. Eventually, he got news that a room had opened up in a Permanent Supportive Housing program. The next challenge was meeting all of the paperwork requirements. Like many people experiencing homelessness, Bessie did not have access to most of her personal documents, including her birth certificate. This was especially challenging because Bessie was born in New York. But Tom and Bessie persevered. They secured the documents they needed, and Tom partnered with the Lancaster County FoodHub to cover Bessie’s first month of rent.  

Finally, in January 2025, Bessie moved into her new ADA-accessible room in the Permanent Supportive Housing Program. Permanent Supportive Housing programs offer affordable housing and supportive services with no mandatory exits, meaning that Bessie can remain in this housing for the rest of her life if she chooses to, and the room is rent-subsidized, meaning that she will be able to maintain her housing there with minimal financial burden. Long-term, Bessie’s dream is to save up enough to someday move into her own place again, so that her daughter, who is currently living in a nursing home, can stay with her.  

Today, Bessie is thriving in her new space. “I have a beautiful room, and I can fix it up the way I want,” she says. She has her own TV, a microwave, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Thanks to her own perseverance and Tenfold’s support, she is safe, stable, and comfortable.  

Reflecting on her experience with Tenfold, Bessie shares “I thank God every day for Tenfold, I thank God every day for Tom. He has been a rock for me. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I’m at now. Tom never gave up on me.” 

To donate to Tenfold, click here. Your support helps individuals like Bessie achieve lasting stability.