Though Ms. Rosario said she had expected to stay in the United States only a few months, that plan changed as Amy’s health improved significantly and she was enrolled in school. She attends P.S. 138 in Manhattan.

Unfortunately, Ms. Rosario and Amy could not continue to stay with Ms. Rosario’s friend, who politely asked grandmother and granddaughter to leave, exhausted from one too many sleepless nights, a consequence of Amy’s loud crying and screaming.

Because Ms. Rosario’s sole source of income is a $98 biweekly welfare payment and $733 a month in Social Security Insurance payments for Amy, the two had little recourse but to enter a homeless shelter, where Gregorio joined them.

The family has since bounced around among various shelters; many are unsuitable for children with disabilities. There is not enough space for Amy to play on the floor, and the family must layer the mattresses with clothing to avoid being poked by the springs.

Last November, the family was placed in a shelter in East New York, Brooklyn, that was a two-hour bus ride from Amy’s school. She would cry on the long rides.

Ms. Rosario sought help from the City Bar Justice Center, which provides legal assistance to low-income clients. It helped get the family transferred to a more appropriate shelter, closer to Amy’s school.

The City Bar Justice Center is a partner with the Children’s Aid Society, one of the agencies supported by The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund. Ms. Rosario said she has been grateful for the assistance. She also knew that she needed to find work to ensure her family’s financial stability, and believed a job as a home health aide would suit her.