Chris & Genny's Comeback Journey

Chris (24) and Genny (25) have worked hard to establish a stable family life for themselves and their two children, ages seven and three. The young family became homeless in 2020 but now rents a two-bedroom apartment at the Sobrato Family Living Center, HomeFirst’s low-income housing complex in Santa Clara.  

 

The family’s homelessness came unexpectedly. Genny, Chris, and their two children were living with Genny’s mom when circumstances changed and they were forced to move out. The couple had no other family to fall back on. Distance had grown between Genny and her siblings, and Chris had grown up in group homes and with a mother who was in and out of his life.   

 

Genny contacted various housing service providers in search of assistance, an effort which eventually led her to HomeFirst. The family has now lived at our Sobrato Family Living Center for more than 18 months. They are happy to have a permanent place to call home: one they can afford because Chris is a Senior Engineer at a water purification company, and Genny is a floor lead at an Italian restaurant.   

 

With Genny and Chris’ newfound stability, they can plan for the future. The couple is saving money, working to improve their credit, and hope to one day buy a home. The kids are also doing well, and they just enjoyed their first ever family vacation! 

 

Housing insecurity is a problem for many in the Bay Area, but for Genny and Chris, this challenge was coupled with finding quality daycare, a daunting task for any parent. In order for both parents to work, the couple had to find a reliable daycare provider, and the need to secure financial assistance for this essential childcare added another layer of complexity. The hurdles didn’t stop there. For both parents to work, the couple had to coordinate their work schedules to ensure that a parent is always home when the kids are not in school.  

 

Genny and Chris’s resilience and ability to navigate obstacles related to housing, employment, and raising children is a testament to their teamwork and love for their kids. We look forward to seeing the success that we are certain is ahead of them.