Rapid Rehousing Gives Family a ‘New Start’
Walking into their new apartment in Paradise Hills after spending more than a month living in their car with their two daughters — including a newborn — felt like a new start for Andrew and Tatiana.
“We walked in and it was a breath of fresh air, like being able to start over. And I think that’s a good feeling, like you have a clean slate and you can start from square one and work your way back up,” said 25-year-old Andrew, who along with his wife, Tatiana, is a U.S. Navy Veteran.
Andrew and Tatiana moved to San Diego from North Carolina in February. They gave up steady housing and Andrew’s part-time job working as a package handler for a shipping company to care for a relative.
In April, with Andrew unable to secure a job in San Diego and without any money, they became homeless.
“We chose to move here to help someone and ended up living in a car,” Andrew said.
They turned to SDHC to ask about receiving Federal rental housing assistance and were referred to SDHC’s rapid rehousing program for homeless Veterans. In May, they moved into their apartment, which is one of the SDHC-owned units dedicated to addressing homelessness.
“Thirty-five days later, we were signing the lease.” – Tatiana
They also received furniture from a grant that the Wells Fargo Foundation provided to SDHC to assist formerly homeless Veterans.
Tatiana and Andrew are getting used to once again having a place to call home — and looking to the future.
They are enrolled at the SDHC Achievement Academy, which provides programs that emphasize career planning, job skills and personal financial education.
“I just want to find a job. Get some steady income and get some stability,” said Andrew.