Client Success Stories

Juan

Juan had never lived on his own.  No longer able to rely on the help of others, Juan endured two years of homelessness while he worked towards his recovery from substance abuse.  He heard about HomeStart from peers at his transitional program and began his search for a home for himself and his son, Jordin.

“You just don’t know what kind of obstacles there are to finding housing. I was desperate and struggling.  But when my HomeStart advocate helped me secure an apartment of my own, I was so happy.”
“The best thing about my home is that I have a roof over my head – a place that I can call home. I’ve been through some changes. I never paid rent before because I never had my own place. Now I pay rent and bills. It’s been a new experience for me, learning how to budget my money – now I know what every person goes through.  At first it was scary, but today I’m a responsible person.”

“With the help of HomeStart, I was able to get my license. Then I got a job. Then I got my home. I even bought a car. I’m very grateful and it feels good to see the gifts that I have today.”

“I want to enter a first home-buyer program and one day own my own condominium.  All my coworkers are all homeowners and if they can do it, I know I can do it.”

Michael

A painter and a former student of the Museum School of Fine Arts, Michael lived and worked in Boston until he was 44 years old. And then, according to him, "I started drinking. I wound up homeless - pretty much living on the street off and on for eight years of my life. For 17 years I had worked in a gallery on Newbury Street and then for a number of years after that I found myself sleeping in the alley behind Newbury Street."

On one of those cold nights spent sleeping in the streets, Michael lost most of his foot to frost bite. As he recovered from his injury, he began the recovery process for his addiction as well. Michael started working with a HomeStart Housing First advocate and quickly moved to his own home.

When Michael realized that he was going to get his own apartment, he says he felt "incredible relief. I just wasn't sure how I was going to get a place otherwise. Housing First turned out to be absolutely tailor made. I'm sure it accommodates a lot of people's situations. It seems pretty flexible to me. If I had to have searched for housing on my own, I would have found something, but it would have taken a lot longer without HomeStart."

Since moving into his home over two and a half years ago, Michael's been able to "catch up with the 21st century," as he likes to say. Two years ago, Michael admits he couldn't even send an email. Now he balances his time between graphic design and tending to his verdant indoor gardens and lush, tree frog-inhabited terrariums.

Jessica

"It's hard to believe that after almost two years of struggling to maintain hope & stay strong, I have finally moved in to my apartment." About 2 years ago, Jessica was battling a substance abuse problem - she was also homeless. She found herself staying on friends' couches most nights. Her two children, Jaylin, 2 months old and Dylan, two years old, were taken from her and placed in the custody of Department of Social Services. After 8 months of not knowing where she would be laying her head down night after night, Jessica put herself into a detox program and started on the road to recovery. Unfortunately, her children could not stay with her. At first, she could only see Jaylin & Dylan for one hour every 2 weeks. However, she was thankful that they were together in a caring foster home.

"DSS told me that if I didn't get clean & get housing, my kids would be put up for adoption." She knew that she had to follow everything DSS instructed her to do if she ever wanted to have her children back. Her transitional living program put her in touch with Jayme Valdez, a Housing Advocate/Case Manager at HomeStart in Cambridge. Jayme helped her through the application and interview process to obtain Family Public Housing through the local housing authority. Her hope was shaken when, about 5 months ago, Jessica got denied housing. She describes, "They said I was denied because of lack of employment, lack of bill paying and lack of housing history. It felt like a slap in the face." However, she knew she had gone too far to give up hope and she just needed to stay strong and sober.

Jessica went through the appeal process with Jayme only to get denied again. Jayme helped her stay determined and motivated while they continued to call and send letters. The persistence paid off when the housing authority called Jessica and informed her that her denial was being overturned and they were granting her housing.

Now, after 15 months of sobriety, Jessica moved in to her new apartment on January 18th. And only 3 weeks later, she is already very settled in. She said that she couldn't wait to unpack and put all of her things in their own place. Jaylin and Dylan are staying with her on the weekends now. She will have them back with her full time when she knows she is ready. She says, "I can't wait to be a mother again and get to know my children."

She has maintained employment for the last eight months and she is hoping for job advancement in order to give her children everything they need. "Sometimes I worry that I will not be able to provide for my children, but at least now I have the right attitude to deal with it." When asked about HomeStart's role, Jessica says, "With the help of HomeStart, I was able to find housing for me and my children. Without HomeStart, I'd definitely still be in a sober house without my children. And now, it's all about the future."

Raquel

Raquel lived with her son in their two-bedroom apartment for nine years. While her 21-year-old son was in school he started to work. Unaware that she needed to report this change of household income to the housing authority, Raquel was shocked to learn that she owed back rent to the housing authority. Faced with an eviction, Raquel turned to HomeStart for help.

"I just didn't know that I had to report a change of income. I felt really bad. I had no hope. Never in my life had I been behind on my bills or my rent. I just didn't know. I knew someone who had received services from HomeStart. I called HomeStart and they solved the problem. They were able to help pay my arrearage. When I came to HomeStart it was the first time that I had hope."

Dennis, with daughter Juliana

Dennis is an Iraq War Veteran. He worked in the Navy's Construction Battalion alongside the Marines. After injuring his back while in Iraq, Dennis returned home.
Dennis ended up staying at the Veterans' Shelter. "It was here that I learned I was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Since then I've been trying to recover and get my family back."

"I didn't want to be there. There was no privacy. I wanted my own place and my own things." Dennis was referred to HomeStart. "My advocate told me how to work with my credit history and figure out what I could really afford on my income from my job. HomeStart has a good working team there." Combining his savings with help from HomeStart's rental assistance fund, Dennis moved into a 2 bedroom, private market apartment and was reunited with his daughter, Juliana.

Gloria

This past winter if it wasn’t for the resourcefulness and advocacy skills that the HomeStart staff provides, Gloria would have been in grave danger of losing her apartment in which her and her two teenage daughters have called home for the last eight years. Her Property Manager took her to court because she owed almost $2200 in rent. Her younger daughter began requiring more of her time, so she took a part-time job to have more flexibility to care for her. Unfortunately, this also meant a decrease of income. As a result, she ended up getting behind on her rent.

With the help of HomeStart, Gloria’s arrearages were paid in full by the due date. “Thanks to HomeStart, I realize now that it’s ok to ask for help because now I know that there are people who can look above it and really understand what I’m going through. I know there are other mothers like me out there who are just trying to do the best they can do to take care of their kids. Thank God for HomeStart.”

Itza

About 9 years ago, Itza waved good-bye to her family in Panama and moved to the United States in search of a better life and to study English. Shortly after she settled in to this country, she married an American and had two children. Unfortunately, the marriage ended up being an unpleasant situation for her and her children. So about a year and a half ago, Itza and her family ended up homeless and spending nights in a shelter. When asked what it was like living in a shelter, Itza said, “It’s hard, very hard. I do not recommend it, but I knew I had no choice.”

One of Itza’s friends from the shelter informed her about HomeStart and suggested that she give us a call. Itza was assigned an advocate to find suitable housing for her and her children. Itza was pleased that HomeStart provided her with a Bilingual Advocate to help her read and fill out paperwork as she feels her English still is not perfect. Itza thought that with her immigration status and credit report it would be impossible for her to obtain housing. However, after less than a year, HomeStart overcame her barriers and placed Itza and her family into their own apartment. After a month of getting used her new home, Itza said, “It’s a good neighborhood and school, it’s quiet, my kids love it and if my kids are happy, I’m happy!” About HomeStart, she says, “My experience there was awesome! It’s the best program I worked with while being homeless . . . I would like to help out and volunteer at HomeStart events to thank you for everything you have done for me.”

Johanna

As translated by Bilingual Prevention Advocate, Reina Henriquez

Johanna is a single mother with two children – Miguel, 20 months old and Channel, 4 years old. She had been struggling to pay her bills while being the sole care-provider for her children. And this past winter, she ended up so behind on her rent that Court gave her 48 hours to leave her apartment. However, along with this impending doom, they also gave her HomeStart’s phone number. With this being an emergency case, Johanna got an appointment to see a HomeStart Advocate the next day. Johanna said, “I felt so desperate . . . I couldn’t stand the thought of being homeless with two little ones.”

Under a strict deadline, HomeStart found the resources necessary to prevent Johanna, Miguel and Channel from having to spend their days and nights on the street. Now, with her arrears paid in full, her HomeStart Advocate is continuing to support Johanna by providing budgeting advice and helping her find other resources for her children, such as Cradles to Crayons. Johanna said, “My experience here was different than any other place. My advocate treated me with respect and dignity . . . I feel so grateful to HomeStart for preserving my housing.”

Andre

After struggling with a drug addiction and the loss of his family, Andre sought treatment and entered a transitional housing program. It was there where he heard about HomeStart. Andre had been searching for housing for nine months before he found a place.

When asked about working with his advocate, Andre is all smiles, saying, “I have the utmost respect for him. He is very patient and understanding and very concerned about his clients. He takes time out to explain what’s going down and what HomeStart is doing. He treats you like people. He has a lot of good heart. He helped me send out different housing applications, made important phone calls for me and worked with me and the housing authorities."

"Because I’m not too familiar with Boston, I would have had a serious problem without HomeStart in my housing search. I wouldn’t know where to begin.” Andre also has a bilateral hearing impairment. Speaking about his disability, Andre remarks, “I read lips, but it’s difficult for me to understand everything all the time. My advocate has a special gift. He explains everything and makes it easy to understand. HomeStart not only deals with people, they also deal with people who have disabilities. If people with disabilities in Boston come to HomeStart, they get all the help they need.” “Sometimes, when you’re bilaterally hearing impaired, you meet people who don’t understand and they hurt your feelings and it makes you want to shut down. And then you meet someone like Will [Andre’s housing advocate] who makes it easy to understand things and it opens your heart.”