Resident Profile: Vicky and Ed Share a Happy, Healthy Life Together Thanks in Part to Affordable HOPE Home
Vicky and Ed in front of their HOPE home in Long Beach California.
By Lauren Quijano
“We do everything together,” Vicky says as she shuts off the television and sits on a brown reclining sofa chair in the living room of her HOPE home in Long Beach. Ed adds, “We grocery shop together and run errands together.” They are sitting on matching sofa chairs that in the moment seem symbolic of their relationship as a well-matched couple. Ed and Vicky met in an adult school in Long Beach 28 years ago. They saw each other often, until Vicky had to move to Huntington Beach. Luckily, their friends reintroduced them, and they have been inseparable ever since.
“She always asks how I am feeling, especially after my brother and cousin passed away recently. I was really close to them.”
Vicky says, “A home is meant to provide comfort and warmth, a place where you can be yourself and where you can exist well with others,” after which she quietly reflects on her past challenges of living with other people. Vicky grew up as a child in Ohio and moved as a teenager to Long Beach with her dad. Later, she ended up moving from one group home to the next every two years: seven group homes in total. Her dad passed away two years ago and her nearest immediate family is a sister in Salt Lake City.
Today, Ed is her main companion. In the past, housing instability was a major challenge to staying together. This is a common barrier for many couples with developmental disabilities. Prior to them moving into a HOPE home, Ed and Vicky lived in an apartment on Bellflower Blvd where they paid market rent (currently market rate rent is $1,907 per month for a one-bedroom apartment in Long Beach). That rent was much higher compared to the 30% of their income that they pay now.
Research shows that when people are forced to pay large percentages of their income on rent, there is a direct negative impact on their physical and mental health. For example, rent burdened individuals have less money available to purchase healthy foods, pay for healthcare expenses, or participate in healthful activities. For Ed and Vicky, living together in their affordable HOPE home is the most ideal situation. Without their HOPE home, they could lose their independence and be forced to consider living in group homes or identify extended family that could provide them lodging.
Ed shows off his cooking pan in the kitchen.
Moving into their current housing was a positive step for Ed, a long-time resident of North Long Beach. He was able to stay near the community where his mom worked as a caterer after his father passed away at a young age. Ed started learning skills in the kitchen like helping her do dishes. He recalls, “That is how I learned how to cook. I always liked to cook. I said to myself ‘I could do this, I could do this!’" He worked at the local Golden Corral for many years and later transitioned to doing sanitation work at Home Depot.
At HOPE, we believe that ensuring our homes are well maintained is very important for the health and well-being of couples like Ed and Vicky. In 2015, HOPE updated their home fixtures, replaced the carpet with laminate wood flooring, added a fresh coat of paint, and built a patio and fence in the backyard where Ed and Vicky relax in the summertime. HOPE conducts bi-annual health and safety inspections in partnership with Appleby Property Management, checking all the electrical outlets, appliances, smoke alarms, etc. This is especially important for Ed, who frequently cooks Vicky’s favorite dishes in the kitchen such as hamburgers, spaghetti, and pork chops.
Vicky, now retired, supports Ed who is currently in the process of finding an evening job in the sanitation or culinary field with the help of their supportive living service (SLS). Their SLS staff member Gus recalls fondly how Vicky always has Ed’s back whenever he cannot remember something, like a doctor’s appointment. “She remembers for Ed.” In this moment, Ed reminds Vicky, “You have an upcoming eye doctor appointment too.”
Vicky and her sports medals.
Each year they participate in the Special Olympics, and Ed enjoys helping other people who are participating for the first time. Ed has created teams with their neighbors who are also HOPE residents. They both have their share of medals proudly hung on display in the living room. Ed’s latest achievement was winning a gold medal at a golf tournament.
As they consider the next stage of their life together, they hope to move up north one day to be closer to family and celebrate the holidays with them. They are on a waiting list for a seniors’ home in that area. Until then, they look forward to more holiday seasons to come in their HOPE home in Long Beach.
Vicky and Ed with their pet cat Tommy.
“Listen to each other,” is Vicky’s simple advice to young couples on how to stay in love after 28 years. Ed agreed, “She always asks how I am feeling, especially after my brother and cousin passed away recently. I was really close to them.” They comfort each other in times of need, and also use humor and laughter to feel better by watching their favorite tv shows together.
Thanks to donors who support HOPE’s mission, loving couples like Ed and Vicky continue to live happily, healthily, and independently in their home and community. They foster their relationship that is 28 years strong, a beautiful reminder that when donors support HOPE’s critical mission, we are supporting community members to maintain lifelong relationships and pursue their future hopes and dreams.
HOPE is proud to present this resident profile during this special holiday season. There are many more couples with developmental disabilities who are standing by for their chance to have a stable, affordable home to call their own. Join us in making their dreams a reality. Donate here.