The Long Island teen whose story of academic excellence while her family fell into homelessness was back in the news yesterday—Suffolk County officials presented Samantha Garvey, her parents and two siblings with keys to a new house! The home, which is being rented to low-income families by Suffolk County, has three bedrooms and was offered to the Garveys after Samantha's story was featured on the front page of Newsday. The Brentwood High School senior said, "I was homeless, and I didn't have a house, and because of the kindness of all these strangers, I do—I have a house! I couldn't have gotten here without education—you make the best of it because it's the end to so many things."
Garvey was selected as an Intel Science Talent Search semi-finalist—one of 300 across the country—and she told Newsday that her family was kicked out of their home during their holidays (her parents fell behind on rent, after having job and financial difficulties following a car accident). She said that the contest and her work "motivates me to do better. I do well and I pursue my passion because it’s what I have and it’s a way out, you know, and it’ll lead to better things." Garvey's drive inspired an outpouring of support, plus a $50,000 college scholarship from AT&T and an invite to the State of the Union address from Rep. Steve Israel. But perhaps most gratifying was having her story get her family out of a shelter and into a home, reuniting them with their pets (she was worried their dog would have to be euthanized because they had to put him in a pound).
Newsday reports, "County officials have said the Garveys did not receive special treatment. Gregory Blass, commissioner of the county Department of Social Services, said earlier this month that the Suffolk doesn't keep lists of people in waiting, and no one was cast aside for the Garveys to be placed in the home. The agency matches families and individuals with homes as soon as dwellings become available, based on a variety of factors, he said. As do all tenants of the five properties, Samantha's parents, Leo and Olga Garvey, will pay 30 percent of their total income in rent, minus the cost of utilities, Calcaterra said. Leo Garvey drives a cab and Olga Garvey works as a nurse's aide, officials said." Deputy Social Services Commissioner Edward Hernandez told the Daily News, "It’s perfect timing. The house opened up while they were in the shelter. "They’'re exactly the type of family that is eligible for this program. They can stay until they don't need it anymore.”"
Garvey did not make it to the final round of the Intel competition. She's currently just "grateful" for all the support she's received.
