55-year-old woman with stage 4 breast cancer faces homelessness

HINESVILLE, Ga. (WTOC) - Fighting homelessness and fighting cancer.

These are two of the hardest battles for any person to go up against — or for Iris Smith — both of them at the same time. Earlier this year Smith was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer and no longer has the money to afford where she’s living because she can no longer work, and her disability check doesn’t come until January.

“It’s been quite scary at times,” Smith said.

Smith has been providing for her disabled daughter and grandchildren, but despite the work she has put in, the family now finds themselves without money to pay for rent.

WTOC spoke with Iris’s niece, who is a social worker and has experience helping citizens like her aunt keep going.

“People do assume that homelessness happens to people who have made bad choices, and that’s not always the case,” said Shanta Noel. “Sometimes it’s a person who’s trying to make all the right choices and do all the right things, and these unfortunate things still end up happening to them.”

Iris says it’s providing for her grandchildren that keeps her motivated to keep going.

“Thinking of them makes me stronger and makes me want to move forward every day,” Smith said. “As I look at their little faces and see smiles and how much they’re being loved. I’m doing this not just for myself, but for them as well.”

She tells us services like Another Chance Ministries have helped her with food, while agencies with the city have helped provide temporary relief.

Iris tells us she has to move out of her place by 5 p.m. on Monday, and then she’ll go face her battle with cancer and homelessness, elsewhere. She plans to move in with her sister.