Dreams become reality for one formerly homeless family
Eliza and her three children had accepted homelessness as a way of life. After abruptly leaving their home due to unforeseen circumstances, Eliza and her three boys – Ryan, Nick, and Joshua- found themselves sleeping on the floor of friends’ bedrooms and living rooms, and sometimes, even in the car.
When COVID-19 surfaced, the boys began remote schooling, and Eliza had an incredibly difficult time securing a quiet space for her children to work and study. The negative impact on their living situation was apparent with all the boys, but especially the youngest, Joshua. His grades suffered immensely, he had a difficult time concentrating, and a lack of connection with his peers was affecting his self-confidence.
A Boston Public Schools homeless coordinator from Joshua’s school soon connected Eliza with FamilyAid. FamilyAid’s social services team helped to secure an apartment, obtain furniture, and create a financial plan to ensure Eliza and her children would remain permanently housed.
“FamilyAid was the best thing that could have happened to my family” says Eliza. “During COVID, we worked together to secure a temporary apartment near the boys’ school, and eventually in January 2021, we were able to move into a permanent apartment in Charlestown.”
After six months of living in permanent housing, Eliza met with her case manager and mentioned her desire to obtain a college degree. With FamilyAid’s support, she applied for financial assistance and enrolled at Bunker Hill Community College. FamilyAid supplied Eliza with a laptop, books, and other necessary supplies to set her up for success.
After transitioning to college, Eliza quickly realized that her son Joshua would benefit from a move to a new school also. She wanted Joshua to be at a school where he felt safe, would be challenged academically, and could live out his dream of playing lacrosse. During a meeting with her case manager, Eliza shared her son’s desire to apply to BC High, and expressed her worries about the financial burden.
“The FamilyAid team listened to my doubts with patience and provided financial resources, encouragement, and believed in us” says Eliza. “The team helped us learn about financial aid options, directed us through the application process, and helped us acquire written recommendations. We would not have known the first step toward applying or getting financial aid without FamilyAid”.
Recently, Joshua received an acceptance letter from BC High and will play lacrosse in the fall of 2022. Eliza will finish school this year, and Ryan and Nick are thriving in their senior and junior years of high school. The family is thrilled to have the opportunity to follow their dreams and will always remember how FamilyAid changed the trajectory of their lives.
