Positive Moments Amidst a Crisis

For Quell, six, and Kaleo, eight, life at FamilyAid’s temporary housing turned out to be more fun than they imagined. Even though they didn’t fully understand their homeless situation, they enjoyed ice cream truck visits during the summer and made friends with other kids who love superheroes almost as much as they do. Despite the challenges their family was facing, the boys found moments of joy.

Before arriving at FamilyAid, things had been difficult. Their mom, Tara, had been struggling to keep steady work through temp agencies, which made it hard to keep their apartment and food on the table. When domestic violence prompted their abrupt departure from their home, they moved into their grandparents’ two-room apartment. It was unbearably cramped —Tara and Quell slept in the living room while Kaleo stayed with their grandparents in the bedroom. The landlord found out and ordered Tara, Quell and Kaleo to leave.

Turned out on the streets, the family sought shelter and were placed with FamilyAid. Tara worked hard with her FamilyAid case manager, Kalieyah, to improve her family’s situation. She secured a higher-paying job in restaurant management, and the boys were accepted into a school to support their educational needs. Despite the unavailability of housing that she could afford, Tara’s FamilyAid housing specialist, Judith, helped her obtain a housing voucher, got her on housing waiting lists and searched for a landlord willing to accept the voucher. Meanwhile, FamilyAid donor-funded programs allowed Quell and Kaleo to experience all the fun and learning that other kids with permanent housing are accustomed to.

After a little more than a year in FamilyAid’s shelter, the family was able to move into affordable East Boston apartment. Quell and Kaleo are thriving at their charter school. They keep up with all the latest superhero movies with their schoolmates, and during weekends they enjoy playing at the park with their mom.

What Quell and Kaleo might not realize is that their mom has big dreams for their future. Tara is currently pursuing an associate’s degree in business, with plans to get her master’s and own her own businesses to build generational wealth for her family. Thanks to Tara’s determination and FamilyAid’s support, the family’s future looks brighter than ever.