Client Focus: Quinn

In Chicago, single mothers head 80 percent of single parent households and a third of those are women living in poverty. Quinn, 35, was a single mother raising two children on the south side of Chicago, who was hit with an unexpected life storm. Throughout her life she was diagnosed with several mental illnesses, depression, and anxiety. But a late diagnosis of HIV caused the biggest shift of all.

After she was diagnosed with HIV, Quinn’s mental health took a turn for the worst. She couldn’t leave her apartment without having severe panic attacks. Focusing and being productive was difficult for her. Eventually, she lost her job and her income.

Because of her severe anxieties and a fear of losing her children to a potential custody battle, Quinn avoided further medical care and didn’t take her medication. She tried to get financial support through social security but her initial application was denied. Soon her time-limited financial assistance through TANF ended. Without this income, Quinn and her children were evicted and left without a place to call home.

Fortunately, Quinn found the support she needed at Legal Council. Her legal advocate fought by her side for income assistance and for quality mental health care. With Legal Council’s help, Quinn won her disability benefits case. Now she earns a steady income, allowing her to move back into her apartment, care for her children, and strive for better mental health stability with health care professionals.

This year, Quinn and her sons can celebrate the holidays trusting that they have an advocate who will always be there for them in their time of need. When you donate to Legal Council, you help individuals like Quinn receive life changing assistance that they could not otherwise afford. You make this change happen.