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Success Stories * A Message of Thanks From a Mother Currently Enrolled at Travelers Aid Family Services:"Thank you to all the team. Alison, Laura, Stacy, Myra, Pam, Carol thank you for all the help you guys gave me. It changed my life a lot. I'm more happy that what I was before. My life changed to better and now I could do it by myself without your help, guys. I appreciate it for that. I learned to be responsible, there is always another day. You have always given me hope. I am happy the way I am right now. A lot of things happened in my life that have changed from that time to now, like my job, I got my certificate with Alison's help, I couldn't make it without you. I am learning more reading. Thank you to Alison, the person I met with for the longest, because you've been helping me for all these months. I want to thank the other people I worked with also. My life has changed because I was able to leave my husband with the help of TAFS. I appreciate Alison for being always happy to see me. I feel comfortable to talk to you about anything that's bothering me. You always have a nice attitude and positive answer for me. You always have a smile on your face when you greet me at the door. I don't know how to describe it but to be honest it's the truth. You are a good person to talk to, I feel okay after I talk to you about my problems. If I come in sad I leave happy. Happy New Year to everyone. I hope this year brings happiness and good luck. Sincerely, Jeanette" Oliveira Family Following years of stable, permanent housing, the Oliveira family became homeless when their rent was doubled. It was around this time that Mr. Oliveira had major brain surgery, which was successful, but rendered him unable to work. The family’s youngest son was in middle school and their oldest son has cerebral palsy, which necessitates a unique home environment so that he could maneuver safely. Mrs. Oliveira worked as a nursing assistant, but the agency for which she worked reduced her hours. The Oliveira’s, rich in family cohesion and tradition, became homeless. They spent weeks in a hotel emergency placement, and then a shelter. Through their own vigorous efforts and a team of TAFS supporters, the Oliveira family was approved for a voucher program designed for families with exceptional medical needs. With the assistance of a TAFS Housing Search Specialist, this family located an apartment in a familiar neighborhood and again live with the comfort of knowing they have a home. The two sons are doing well, attending schools well suited to their strengths. Mrs. Oliveira has served as a spokesperson for the value of the services that Travelers Aid Family Services provides. Stone Family Ms. Stone is the single parent of three daughters. She left an abusive situation, and was not able to afford a market rate apartment close to her job and the schools where her children were known and supported. The family became homeless and was in a shelter for seven months. During this time, Ms. Stone pursued helpful benefits, and sought advancement in her position and pay at a local hospital. She was able to use the support and resources provided by Travelers Aid Family Services to locate an affordable apartment. Ms. Stone was able to utilize her resources and learned to budget carefully. Despite the demand on her energy, time and money, Ms. Stone and her children are safer and more secure for the first time in years. The family received help with rental assistance, housing search, landlord negotiation, good financial practices, and support in dealing with the tumult of homelessness and loss. The Stone family has been in permanent housing for more than one year. Aristide Family Life was frightening and uncertain for a Haitian single mother who came to Boston to reunite with her family. This dream was dashed as she, and her young son, were forced to live with difficult arrangements and Ms. Aristide felt afraid for her well-being. In the midst of this upheaval in an unfamiliar culture, it became evident that her young son had serious developmental problems. Ms. Aristide was in one of Travelers Aid Family Services’ transitional apartments for nearly a year. She gradually was able to trust the staff, and share her many concerns. The options, given her immigration status, were extremely limited. She was assisted with dozens of rental applications, and after a year, was finally offered public housing. She also was guided through the maze of services available for her son, and finally found a school placement and camp that could serve him. Over time, she became open to utilizing the assistance of the Department of Mental Retardation, with the hope that they could be a useful resource throughout her son’s life. Ms. Aristide was devoted to the stabilization services that were offered through Travelers Aid Family Services, and at the two year point post homelessness, states she feels safe and secure in her current setting. She is free from worry about basic safety, and is well connected to community resources, and mainstream benefits. *Family names have been changed to protect anonymity
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