Meet the Romero family – Roberta, a devoted mother, and her sons Isaiah, Jayden, and Donovan. Roberta and her sons resided in New Mexico but found themselves in unsafe living conditions and facing eviction. Forced to leave behind their familiar surroundings due to escalating violence in their neighborhood, they made the move to Vancouver in 2023 to live closer to family and pursue work and school.
Once in Vancouver, their expected living situation fell through. They found themselves in a new city without a place to call home. The Romeros secured temporary shelter in modest motel rooms while they navigated the complexities of job hunting. Roberta shares, “ We were so nervous about not knowing where we were going to end up sleeping. I didn’t want to have my kids in the street.”
Refusing to let her family endure even more hardship, Roberta reached out for help by contacting Council for the Homeless (CFTH). Through collaborative efforts with CFTH, Isaiah and Roberta were able to find jobs. To escape the cold winter weather, they temporarily rented a garage while looking for a permanent place to move.
After a few months, the Romero family found not just a place to live, but a home they could truly call their own. With assistance covering move-in costs and the first month’s rent, they finally settled into a gated apartment building, where safety and security became their reality.
This stability brought Roberta and her sons a wave of gratitude and joy. From cooking together in their own kitchen to watching their cat run around the house, every moment served as a reminder of their resilient journey to find housing. As Isaiah puts it, “We started from zero, but now we have everything.”
Through the support of CFTH, they have not only found a home but also a community where they can thrive and pursue their dreams.
Roberta shares, “I’m very happy, and I’m grateful to see my kids so happy and safe, too. I wanted them to have better opportunities, and now we all do. It’s really positive here, and I see my sons doing big things in the future.”
Their story is a testament to the transformative impact of safe, stable housing and resources. Together, the Romero family stands as living proof that with hope, perseverance, and the support of a caring community, anything is possible.
