17 years ago, when Delia walked through the doors of Catholic Charities East Bay looking for help from our Immigration Legal Services team, she found more than assistance ─ she found someone who took the time to listen and help her move forward in life.
Delia in Catholic Charities’ Oakland Office
Encouraged by her immigration attorney ─ who recognized her potential ─ Delia applied for a front desk position at Catholic Charities, where began her journey as part of the Catholic Charities team. A year later, she joined the Housing Services team. Today, Delia has dedicated 16 years helping neighbors achieve housing safety and stability.
Over time, her work became part of her family’s life, too. When her daughters Kenya and Jocelyne were just 10 and 12, they spent summers and school breaks volunteering wherever they were needed, especially with programs like Joy Bells, which helps children and families at Christmas. Years later, Kenya returned as an administrative coordinator, following in her mother’s footsteps.
In almost two decades of housing work, Delia has watched the needs in our community shift dramatically. Today, she sees a growing number of seniors seeking housing support, especially after the pandemic. Many individuals are over 65 years old, some over 70, still trying to work just to survive. They live with disabilities, health challenges, and the heavy reality that they don’t have the opportunity to retire. More families, particularly in the Latino community, are facing housing instability across both counties we serve.
Some of the hardest moments in Delia’s work are also the most meaningful. One of the biggest challenges Delia faces is helping clients accept painful changes, especially seniors who can no longer afford to live in the neighborhoods they once called home. Downsizing, relocating, and starting over can feel like a loss of identity. Delia meets those moments with honesty, patience, and care. She says, “Sometimes all they need is five or ten minutes to be heard. There is no rushing, no judgment. Just a team ready to listen, offer comfort, and, when needed, even a hug.”
One client’s story remains especially close to her heart. A woman who had spent 25 years incarcerated was warned not to disclose her past out of fear she would be denied help. When Delia took the time to listen, she learned the truth. The woman had been a survivor of domestic and sexual violence. After her release, she had been living in her car. Delia didn’t judge. She helped secure housing through paying the security deposit and first month’s rent. She was also able to provide furnishings, such as a bed and a table. For the first time, the client said she felt respected.
Today, Delia wants people to know that asking for help is not something to be ashamed of. “Everyone goes through difficult moments,” she says. “Being hardworking doesn’t protect you from a crisis. We are here to help, and no one should ever feel embarrassed for needing support.” For Delia, Catholic Charities East Bay is proof that when people are met with compassion instead of judgment, lives can truly change.
