STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After immigrating from South Africa 20 years ago, Jocelyne, 50, moved to Staten Island where she rented an apartment and started a new life.

However, that life was upended in 2022, when Jocelyne’s sister fell ill, and she had to move to Florida to care for her. After her sister’s passing, Jocelyne was eager to resume her life on Staten Island. But when she returned, she needed to find a new job.

“My sister passed away more quickly than I was expecting,” she said, noting she had left a job and needed to find work. “And I no longer had a place to live.”

While her son was able to stay with his godmother during this time, Jocelyne found herself “living in the streets,” or crashing on friends’ couches to get a good night’s sleep.

“I couldn’t stay where my son was stay

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