Housing instability doesn’t look the same for every family. For two sisters in one of our elementary schools, it meant spending sleepless nights in hotels and coming to school exhausted.

After living in a trailer with no running water, their single father was fortunate to get them into the hotel program at Lydia Place. But having a kindergartner and third-grader packed into a tight room wasn’t easy for early bedtimes, and the noise and chaos of a shared hotel made it difficult to sleep. Although their father got them to school every day, their teachers and school staff noticed how tired and worn-down they were.

So when a permanent housing spot opened up, their dad was determined to make a real, stable home for them. But all they had was an empty apartment.

That’s where your donations came in. The BPSF was able to provide everything they needed to get their home settled – and they needed it all. Your generosity helped purchase kitchen and cleaning supplies, food assistance to stock their fridge, clothes to fill drawers, and furniture to make the space usable.

And crucially, we were able to provide them with beds, mattresses, and bedding to finally give them a good night’s sleep in their own beds, in their own space.

And the difference was noticeable – this year the girls are coming to school rested, excited, and thriving on the stability of their routines. Their dad is now fully exited from the housing program, and is paying rent on his own. He’s even started a voluntary case management partnership, to help ensure he stays on track with his own budget.

Helping families transition into housing isn’t as simple as giving them keys.

Your donations help pave a path for our families and communities to grow stronger.