Rebekka's Story
July 7, 2025
Living Well at Home
Health news, stories of care, and other information to help you live safely and independently at home
Mission in Action: Helping Members Navigate the System
CCA Member Melissa* had been housing insecure for over a year, couch surfing and relying on friends. She applied for housing support through the Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Program as a “standard applicant,” a track typically used for non-urgent cases. While she waited for her application to be reviewed, she was referred to CCA Community Health Worker (CHW) Rebekka for additional support.
During their first meeting, Melissa and Rebekka reviewed the housing application together. Because of the urgency of Melissa’s situation, she qualified to apply using the “priority status” designation, which can drastically shorten wait times compared to the years-long process for standard applicants. After discussing it, Rebekka helped Melissa update her application to priority status. Unfortunately, her application was denied due to a decades-old DUI. Mellisa was devastated and losing hope.
“She completed treatment, was sober for over 15 years, and turned her life around,” Rebekka said. “The denial was heartbreaking, but I was determined to fight for her. I made it my mission to get the housing authority to take another look at her application.”
A CHW at CCA since 2022, Rebekka has always had a passion for helping others. Before immigrating to the U.S., she served as a counselor for Total Control of the Epidemic, a public health program combatting HIV/AIDS in Africa, where she went door to door connecting people to education, tools, and care.
After moving to the U.S., Rebekka used her counseling experience to navigate critical resources for herself and her family. That challenging journey inspired her to pursue a career as a CHW to support others facing similar barriers. She earned an associate’s degree in public health and began working at the East Boston Neighborhood Center, now NeighborHealth, supporting patients with asthma.
Now at CCA, she works with One Care and Senior Care Options members, helping address social needs like housing and food insecurity—bringing compassion, persistence, and lived experience to the communities she serves.
To help Melissa get access to much needed housing, Rebekka helped her file an appeal with the housing authority to ensure they would review her application again. That included helping her gather all of the documentation and proof of treatment and recovery, write a personal statement, and prepare for her hearing.
“Community programs can be hard to navigate and many of our members don’t know the rules or where to start,” said Rebekka. “Melissa was eligible for support but overwhelmed by the process. My role was to help bridge that gap.”
Thanks to Rebekka’s advocacy, Melissa successfully appealed her application and secured housing within a few months. Rebekka even connected Melissa to other community programs that could help with furniture. With stable housing, Melissa was finally able to focus on her health, reconnecting with her primary care provider after a long gap.
*Member’s name changed to protect their privacy.
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