Stories

"Mary" and her two small children moved from transitional housing in the Housing Families Inc. area into permanent housing at Cross Street. Mary had earned a college degree in Africa and worked there as an accountant before coming to the U.S. However, once she obtained a green card and was able to work in this country she earned far less in an entry-level position outside her field of expertise.

Soon after the family settled into their new home, Mary met with her Housing Families Stabilization Worker. In one of their first meetings, they discussed the fact that Mary did not know of any way to apply the college credits she'd earned in Africa toward an accounting degree here. It turns out that Mary's stabilization worker had helped her own husband and other family members to overcome this same hurdle. She helped Mary to submit the paperwork needed to obtain international transfer of credits. This will allow Mary to earn a U.S.-recognized accounting degree in far less time than the standard four years. Already she has begun looking for a job in her field, and has contacted Housing Families' One Family Scholar Site Coordinator to explore submitting an application to that educational support program this spring.

"This is a perfect example of the way the Stabilization Team can hear about a family's specific situation, and then come up with right approach to make good things happen," says Felisha Bennett, Housing Families' Director of Housing & Stabilization, who oversees the Stabilization Program. Housing Families is thrilled to provide Mary with the necessary guidance and support from a caring and experienced Stabilization Worker to help her achieve such progress.

Donna came to Housing Families after a major medical crisis left her unable to support herself and her 17 year-old daughter. She had to leave her job as an administrative assistant at Hanscom Air Force Base and was evicted from her Malden apartment.

Donna was facing several newly diagnosed medical disabilities and at the same time undergoing a divorce. Unfortunately her health problems multiplied and she became disabled. Donna applied and was accepted into our Stabilization Leasing Program on July 1, 2005. This program helps families with a disabled adult to stabilize in housing with the intention that they will become the sole leaseholder once the objectives in the family's Service Plan are met.

During the seven months Donna and her daughter lived in an HFI shelter, she and her Housing Families Case Manager set up payment plans to reduce outstanding rent and utility arreages which were significant barriers to her obtaining permanent housing. Once enrolled in the Leasing Program, Donna continued to pay down her debts and also increased her income by applying for SSI and her federal pension.

Initially Donna was denied public housing, but by demonstrating her consistent payments to her previous landlord, HFI helped her win an appeal with Everett Housing. They offered her a two-bedroom apartment, which HFI staff helped her to furnish and outfit. She attended a Tenancy Advocacy workshop sponsored by Housing Families to help her advocate for her rights. Donna's daughter was able to make it through this difficult time as well, graduated high school, and is currently attending Salem State College.

Donna's Stabilization Case Manager meets with her on a bi-weekly basis and has built a foundation of support and guidance for her as she continues on her road to self-sufficiency. Donna's days are busy with volunteer work at her church, singing in a local choir, attending tai-chi and HFI's weekly Women's Support Group, and doctors' appointments.

One of Donna's greatest accomplishments is the realization that she is overcoming a huge obstacle in life that she had no ability to prepare for, and has carried through with an enormous amount of perseverance and strength that she never knew she had. Donna is so excited about her future and her experience here at Housing Families that she has offered to come to our Tuesday morning workshops to share her story and inspiration with families.

Jennifer K and her three sons joined our Housing Families family in January 2004. Sadly Jen has been homeless for 19 months. Her family lived in a motel and then a shelter in Lynn, before transferring to Housing Families, Inc.'s Broadway shelter in Malden.

"When I transferred to the Housing Families shelter, I was nervous that things were not going to be okay. After I arrived I realized that the staff of this program has made our family feel comfortable, we have our own territory and space and overall the people in the shelter were much nicer than others I had encountered before.

I felt like the people were there to help me. When I came to Housing Families my goals were to get my GED, continue to pursue my education through entering a job training or certification program and obtain permanent housing. I have begun to accomplish many of my long-term goals. In April I got my GED and was able to enroll in a degree program to become a dental assistant at the Bryman Institute. The staff have been great in providing guidance, resources, referrals, support and steering me in the right direction. I am able to get encouragement and assistance in obtaining my goals."

Paige, a single mother with three young children, came to Housing Families financially and emotionally drained. She left her public housing unit following the release of her former abuser, fearing he would find and harm her or her children, and spent months bouncing from place to place.

There were many temporary solutions - friends and family members willing to offer a couch here and a sleeping bag there. However, Paige knew she needed a stable place for her family to call home.

"My life was in disarray . we had nowhere to live."

In February 2004, Paige's DTA worker referred her to Housing Families, where she was placed into a scattered site shelter unit. Paige spent the next four months getting her life back in order. Although the shelter rules were challenging at first, Paige soon learned how beneficial Housing Families' programs became to her and her children.

"It was tough.having to tell your children why they couldn't have sleepovers... that we couldn't live a normal life."

Through individual, family and group counseling, Paige faced her past challenges, and with the help of her case manager, began developing short and long term goals so she could move forward to stability. "I just kept hearing, 'you can do it, don't lose hope, don't lose faith'"

By June, Paige was working as a Certified Nurse Assistant and her children were enrolled in daycare. Thanks to Housing Families, Paige is now living in her own apartment and she has recently applied to a nursing education program. "I am never going to lose what I have again, I never want to put my kids through that. We came out on top, but went through an extremely difficult time to get here."