Lina’s Story

The year is 2003 and Lina Lumme is 8 months pregnant, all alone and terrified. At that point, she didn’t know who to go to, where to go or what to do. All she had was $100.

“This isn’t the life I want for my daughter,” she thinks to herself.

Lina seeks help from local sources and she uses her last bit of money on a calling card and a place to sleep for herself and her unborn child.

The next morning she woke up seeking help. She wanted her daughter to have the best life she could provide, a life better than the one Lina was living. Lina called 911 for help and they said that they couldn’t do anything. She called 30 different shelters and at each of them all she got was the answering machine. She called 1 one more and no machine picked up. Instead, it was a woman that told Lina to contact Precious Life Shelter in Los Alamitos and the rest is history.

16 years later, Lina’s life is something she could’ve never imagined. Not only does she have her first born, a 15-year-old named Cassandra, she also has a son named Daniel who’s 6-years-old and she’s married. On top of all of that, Lina’s professional work allows her to serve her community. She’s the Executive Director of The Youth Center, a non-profit in Los Alamitos that seeks to change the lives of families through collaborative social, educational and recreational programs.

Thanks to Precious Life Shelter, the housing for all of which has been developed by HomeAid OC, Lina got back on her feet. The goal of HomeAid Orange County is to develop housing and get resources such as diapers, wipes, food, and more, for people like Lina that are experiencing homelessness. 

Because of people like YOU we have been able to make a change in our community, helping people get back on their feet and change their lives.

**Story written by 2020 Intern, Nicholas Reyes**