Stronger Together

Vanessa, a 33-year-old single mother, carries a tremendous amount on her shoulders. She’s the primary caregiver for her 8-year-old daughter, Amory, and she provides financial support and care for her own mother, whose health has declined significantly over the past year. As her mother’s condition worsened, Vanessa found herself stretched thin—emotionally, physically and financially.

Juggling the demands of parenting and caregiving, Vanessa struggled to keep up with her rent payments. The stress of supporting two generations of her family while also managing her own well-being became overwhelming, and before long, she fell behind on rent and faced the very real risk of eviction.

Vanessa turned to FamilyAid, where she began working with her Case Manager, Lina. With Lina’s help and in just a few short weeks, she received private financial assistance to address her rental arrears, along with critical support for Amory, including access to behavioral health resources and extracurricular activities, and a parental support group to help her cope with her responsibilities. FamilyAid also connected her with Greater Boston Legal Services to help ensure she and Amory remained stably housed.

One of the most meaningful moments for Vanessa and Amory came during a privately funded FamilyAid community event at Chuck E. Cheese, supported through the agency’s one-of-a-kind Children’s Dream Fund. For Vanessa, the opportunity to connect with other parents brought a renewed sense of support and belonging. For Amory, it was a joyful, lighthearted day where she could simply be a kid. Vanessa shared how powerful it was to feel part of a caring community—something she was deeply seeking.

Due to her tenacity and FamilyAid’s support, Vanessa avoided eviction and maintained her housing. With her housing secure and new connections forming, Vanessa is focused on continuing to build a stable, supportive life for her family—one rooted in hope, resilience and community.