NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — As the presidential candidates address the high cost of living, two Norfolk women are concerned about where and how they are living.
From the exterior of a two-story Norfolk home in the Titustown section of the city, one would never know it serves as a shelter for two disabled women who are homeless.
The owner, Carolyn Jackson, used to work with Belinda Deberry who was a certified nurse aide. Five years ago, Deberry ended up homeless. Two years ago, while visiting a Portsmouth neighborhood, Jackson happened upon Lestine Langhorn, who was emotionally distraught following the death of her son. Jackson, who owns a home healthcare business, opened her heart and her home to both women.
“They didn’t have anywhere to go, so I wasn’t going to let them be outside,” Jackson said.
10 On Your Side first met the women on a sweltering day in June when hundreds lined up outside the NRHA headquarters on Main Street just to apply for public housing.
Langston, 70, who has neurological disorders and 60-year-old Deberry who has a bad back, bad knees and breast cancer, say they still don’t know if Young Terrace, the neighborhood for which they stood in line, is their future home.
“I haven’t heard nothing yet,” Deberry said. “Nobody’s called me for anything.”
The former CNA, who uses a walker, doesn’t have a bed to rest her head.
“I couldn’t get through no further than that [living room],” Deberry said. “So I sleep on a chair, or sometimes I don’t sleep at all.”
Langhorn, who is petite, sleeps on a sofa to help ease unpredictable full-body tremors that disrupt all aspects of her life.
Jackson, the good Samaritan, sums up the plight two women face and they deal with homelessness and life-threatening chronic conditions.
“So I’m hoping that somebody that’s listening to this would just give them, if it’s nothing but one room, to just get them inside, to just give them a bed,” Jackson said.
Leha Byrd, the director of communications and intergovernmental relations, issued a statement to 10 On Your Side that explained why the women were not offered a lease in Young Terrace.
“We are glad that the situations of Ms. Langston and Ms. Deberry were brought to our attention,” the statement reads. “As there are HUD requirements relative to family and bedroom size, the applicable unit sizes for Ms. Langston and Ms. Deberry are unfortunately not currently available at Young Terrace. At this time, we are working with these applicants, as well as many others, to determine how to best assist them with their housing needs. We will review our list of applicants from the leasing event and provide follow-up status correspondences where needed.”