Germel Younger, 55, has spent much of his adult life in the Bronx and Brooklyn, raising a family with his fiancée, Elizabeth Strother. Their bond, which began over a phone chat line before they met in person, has endured for decades, producing three sons and navigating life’s challenges. Over the past several years, however, the couple’s circumstances have shifted dramatically due to Ms. Strother’s worsening health.
Ms. Strother, 51, suffers from kidney and heart conditions that require her to undergo dialysis three times a week. Her illness has reshaped Mr. Younger’s priorities and work life. After years employed as a private security guard, he transitioned to working as a home health aide primarily to care for Ms. Strother. He secured a position through New York State’s Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), which enables family members to provide Medicaid-funded in-home care for loved ones.
Although hesitant at first about accepting assistance from outsiders, Ms. Strother and Mr. Younger found relief when he qualified for the program. Despite this, Mr. Younger is authorized to work only 25 hours weekly at a rate of $21.65 an hour. In reality, he spends significantly more time providing care.
Their combined income, including Mr. Younger’s home health aide earnings and Ms. Strother’s Social Security and disability benefits, supports their household of five. Two of their sons contribute through part-time jobs, while the youngest is still in school. Nevertheless, after covering their monthly rent of $1,804 for a three-bedroom apartment in the eastern Bronx—a rent supplemented by a city housing voucher due to the high market rate of $3,575—finances remain tight.
To manage costs, Mr. Younger has implemented careful measures to reduce expenses, such as installing motion-sensor lighting to lower utility bills, which have dropped substantially from roughly $200 to $50–$75 per month. The family also maintains a modest grocery budget of $400 to $500 each month, shopping at a local Walmart that accepts food stamps. Transportation is primarily provided via Access-A-Ride, a government-funded service used to attend medical appointments and run errands.
Daily routines revolve around Ms. Strother’s treatment schedule. Dialysis sessions begin early in the morning, and Mr. Younger accompanies her home afterward, helping with medication and encouraging mild exercise when possible. With limited discretionary income, the couple rarely enjoy the outings they once did, such as visits to music venues like B.B. King Blues Club in Times Square, which had been a favorite weekend activity in healthier times.
The family briefly lived in Omaha, Nebraska, for two years about a decade ago, attracted by lower living costs and a more family-friendly environment. They found steady jobs and affordable housing, but relocated back to New York in 2019 to care for Ms. Strother’s ailing mother. Initially residing in a homeless shelter, they secured their current apartment through a housing voucher.
Facing rising expenses in New York City, the couple has considered relocating again, possibly to the South where costs are lower and the climate milder. “It’s just time for us to live a little easier,” Mr. Younger said, reflecting on their hopes for improved quality of life.