For years, the weight of debt and financial fraud left Robin carrying a burden she felt she couldn’t share.
“With my debt and fraud, I felt terribly guilty,” she said. “I couldn’t even talk to friends and family about the debt.”
The financial devastation involved two scams that preyed on trust and hope. By the time she realized what had happened, the damage was extensive. The consequences rippled through every part of her life.
“I’ve been homeless twice now because of my debt,” she said. During those periods, she relied on friends for a place to stay. She eventually lost her storage unit because she could no longer afford the payments, and with it, many of her belongings.
Yet amid those losses, a path forward began to emerge.
Through the St. Louis Area Agency on Aging, she was connected with LifeWise in the spring of 2025. Senior programming coordinator Elizabeth Spickerman came to Robin’s apartment and talked with her about participating in LifeWise StL’s Senior Resiliency Fund, a matched savings and financial education program tailored for older adults.
At the time, she was facing lawsuits over two credit card debts. LifeWise connected her with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, where an attorney stepped in to help. “My lawyer went to court for me and got $5,000 wiped away,” she said.
LifeWise also connected her with Home Sweet Home, which helped furnish her living space.
When she first joined the Senior Resiliency Fund program as a participant, she questioned whether budgeting was even possible. “I asked myself, ‘How can I make a budget with all of this debt?’”
Instead, she found understanding and practical support. She also discovered she was not alone. “I found a lot of people are in a similar place as me.”
Working with LifeWise financial social worker Sean Stuart marked a turning point. Together, they reviewed her credit report, income, and expenses. “Sean pulled up my credit report, looked at my income, and helped me make a budget,” she said.
Today, for the first time in years, she can see a future beyond crisis. She is focusing on paying off a credit card before turning to a loan. Just as importantly, she has begun repaying the friends and family members who helped her survive.
“I am able to start paying back friends and family, and because of that I am able to breathe,” she said. “I’m able to be me in full color.”
The practical support she received from LifeWise along the way made a tangible difference. During months when rent consumed nearly everything she had, even small necessities felt out of reach.
“When I was just barely able to pay my rent, being able to pay $1 or $2 for toilet paper and soap at the Bodega thrift store was so helpful,” Robin said.
Access to affordable food has also been essential. “The City Harvest Market has been super helpful for my nutrition,” she said. “It would have cost $50 at the grocery store. I paid $15 using my food stamps.”
Living in a subsidized 55+ apartment community has deepened her awareness of the challenges many older adults face. As she got to know her neighbors, she began looking for ways to help.
Residents share a community pantry, where people can leave items they no longer need. She started contributing food whenever she had extra, especially perishables that might otherwise go unused.
“I started to wonder if people needed food,” she said. “I started leaving perishable foods and anything else extra I had in that pantry.” Now, she regularly checks in on neighbors and looks for opportunities to support others facing hardship.
Looking back, Robin sees the relationships and support systems she found as just as important as the financial assistance itself.
“I so needed this community,” she said. “Thank you.”
In working with Robin over the last year, Sean reflected on what a pleasure it has been to journey with her and watch her future transform.
“Despite her difficult circumstances, she has maintained a positive attitude and has worked very hard to reduce her debt,” Sean said. “I am so happy to see her thriving and making new connections in the community.”
“Robin embodies what it means to be resilient,” said Elizabeth. “She has worked extremely hard at her goals and has shown great strength when navigating hardship. She is always looking to empower others in their journeys and is a very caring presence to those who know her.”
For Robin, every piece of support—from legal aid and financial coaching to affordable food and household essentials—played a role in helping her regain stability, dignity, and hope.
