Leaning on Compassion: Erica’s Story
“When I’m in the presence of people that persevere, it cleanses and gives me permission to keep going.”
— Erica, business owner and Do Good participant
Over half of all Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. That means the simplest cases of bad luck —losing a loved one, facing an unexpected medical emergency, a change in employment—could send an everyday American on a path toward houselessness.
Erica is no stranger to this reality.
When she first stepped into Do Good’s Barbur shelter in 2021, Erica was a first-generation college graduate, an experienced medical professional, and had even founded her own technology company. And yet, after several sudden deaths in the family and unexpected job losses, Erica found herself houseless.
Erica came to Portland in 2005 to study biology and psychology at Portland State University. Her life hadn’t been without its challenges — growing up between Dallas and Seattle she experienced financial instability and the loss of her father. Adversity aside, Erica became a substantial force at Portland State in leading and cultivating multicultural affinity groups.
“I feel like I was an educator…Because whatever I learned, I shared it,” Erica said. “I have a slogan, if you’re gonna hang around me, you’re gonna **** around and start loving yourself.”
Erica (left) speaking with Do Good WRAP team members Kat (middle) and Eddie (right).
After graduating in 2011, Erica bounced between positions in medicine and considered attending medical school at Columbia University only to be stunned by grief a second time in the wake of her mother’s death. Slowly but surely, got back up on her feet and began exploring a career in information technology that allowed her to work remotely across the country.
But in 2020, tragedy struck again: two of her brothers passed away, requiring her to return to Seattle to help her nephew get started in school. It was in the months that followed where Erica found herself without a place to live in Portland.
That’s where her journey with Do Good began. She sought help at the Barbur shelter and bonded with Alex, her case manager. In Erica’s words, she and Alex clicked. “When I’m in the presence of people that persevere, it cleanses and gives me permission to keep going…I felt that with Alex.”
Erica spent two years working with Alex at the Barbur shelter, but continued to struggle with work and housing. This personal support became critical to maintaining her courage to keep fighting.
“I had nothing…But I never complained. I never gave up,” Erica said. “My credit was shot. I couldn’t get an apartment because I had an eviction on my record.”
In 2023, Do Good helped Erica find permanent housing and she connected with WRAP, one of Do Good’s housing retention teams. WRAP pairs individuals with peer support and housing retention specialists to build relationships and solve problems together so participants can maintain their housing. For Erica, the biggest asset from the team was simply having someone to talk to.
“My whole family is gone…I don’t have anyone I can tell the good news to. You could feel the compassion and love coming off (Do Good staff)...it made me feel seen and accepted and heard. That’s the best part of the journey.”
Erica recently “graduated” from the two-year WRAP support, and now lives back in Seattle and continues to run her own business, AfroDigital Nomadz, which focuses on helping black-owned small businesses use social media.
