Finding Home, Finding Hope: Sofia and Ben’s Story
When Sofia, 39, lost her job and could no longer keep up with her rent, she had to choose whether she and her 10-year-old son, Ben, would live out of their car or sleep in a former co-worker’s crowded living room. She chose the living room.
It was not a safe or stable situation. There were too many people coming and going from the apartment, and the crowded situation quickly dissolved into verbal disputes. More than anything, Sofia wanted to get Ben somewhere safe. She reached out to his Boston Public Schools teacher for advice on what they could do. The teacher connected her with the school’s homeless liaison, who referred the family to FamilyAid.
FamilyAid caseworker Erika quickly tried to get Sofia into a state-funded emergency shelter. But Sofia had already been trying to get that help for months. She had spent more than eight months on the shelter waitlist, and a previous application had been denied because her horrendous “doubled up” situation did not technically meet the state’s definition of homelessness.
Erika kept pushing. Together with Sofia, she gathered more documentation, including letters from school homeless liaisons, and prepared a detailed statement explaining what Sofia and Ben were experiencing and how the instability was affecting Ben.
The family’s situation changed for the worse when the former colleague Sofia and Ben had to move. Because Sofia and Ben would no longer have any place to stay, they qualified for faster access to emergency shelter. Erika helped Sofia gather the paperwork she needed to support her application, and she and Ben were approved for shelter.
After being placed in temporary housing, Erika connected Sofia with various job opportunities, helping her secure employment. FamilyAid also provided assistance with Sofia’s meetings with the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) and initiated new permanent housing applications for the family. Erika also worked with Ben’s school to coordinate transportation arrangements to and from their shelter, so Ben could continue attending the same school without interruption.
Today, Sofia and Ben have a home of their own and a stronger foundation for the future. Their story is a reminder of how much can change when families have someone in their corner, helping them navigate a difficult system and move from crisis toward stability.
