How to Start Your Life Anew

Cherished childhood memories, particularly those of the holiday season, often involve newness. New toys. New clothes. A festive new tree in the corner of the living room. And ringing in the New Year.

For three young Boston sisters – Ellie, 12; Sally, 8; and Allie, 7 – future reminiscences of 2022 will indeed center around newness. They’ll look back and remember their new home in a new neighborhood, their new schools, and their new beds and belongings. Most significantly, the girls and their mother, Hattie, will think about the most important new thing they received: a new beginning.

Thanks to FamilyAid and its generous donors, the family was saved from homelessness and provided a new start, just when their stability quickly slipped away.

Last January, Hattie was struggling with an abusive marriage and a demanding airline job at Logan Airport when, after a long day of work, she picked up her kids from an afterschool program and returned to their one-bedroom apartment. They found themselves locked out and without personal documents and possessions, which Hattie’s husband had taken to a dump.

With nowhere to turn in the middle of a dark, cold night, they sought shelter at Boston Medical Center, which contacted FamilyAid. FamilyAid immediately provided Hattie and the girls with a safe, secure shelter. It then helped them replace missing IDs and birth certificates and provided food, financial assistance, and connections to counseling and legal support.

Within three months, FamilyAid secured the family an affordable, two-bedroom apartment, obtained rental assistance for six months, and provided essentials to help them to begin their new life, including furniture, bedding, and toys. FamilyAid’s staff, led by case manager Sherri Strickland, delivered support that was instrumental for Hattie and the girls – compassion, coaching, and connections to start anew in a new neighborhood and new schools.

“There was no one there for us until FamilyAid stepped in,” Hattie said. “I am so grateful to FamilyAid’s wonderful staff for being there for my children and me at the toughest times in our lives. Thank you for making us feel safe and hopeful for better things.”

Their story isn’t unique. For more than a century, FamilyAid has repeatedly met the moment to help homeless children and parents secure safe, stable homes and lives. Thanks to the generosity of donors, FamilyAid currently supports more than 4,000 children and parents and expects to serve more than 5,000 in the new year.