DENISSE'S STORY:

At the age of 23, she became a single mother of 2 young boys when her husband died unexpectantly. Though she was working as a 401K specialist for a Boston financial services company, she struggled emotionally, as would anyone in her position. She was angry and scared, and her grief was taking a toll on her – both mentally and physically.

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Denisse had been receiving assistance from FamilyAid Boston, an organization that serves families facing homelessness. That is where she learned about the Family Economic Stability (FES) program at Metro Housing. The FES program is a time-limited, flat-subsidy rental assistance program designed to help families reach economic stability through intensive case-management and support.

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Though she was working full time, she still struggled, often having to work two or three jobs to afford her rent.

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“When I started FES, I literally had no credit,” says Denisse. “I had no idea about budgets and learning to pay the bills in a timely manner.”

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Working with her FES coordinator, Denisse learned the necessary methods to become debt-free, improve her credit score, and to become financially independent.

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“When FES entered my life, it was like a breath of fresh air. I didn’t realize at the time how much change I needed in my life. They put me in a position to feel like everything was going to be okay. I am very proud of myself for putting in all of the hard work and when I graduated from the program in 2021, I felt such a huge sense of accomplishment.”

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As Denisse gained more confidence through FES, she was able to also put in the work needed to make the changes in herself – spiritually and physically. She lost 85 pounds and started her own business as a wellness coach and maintains a robust social media presence.

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“My spiritual calling is to help others. I take what I have learned from my journey to help others find the strength to make the changes in their lives. And believe me, I refer people to FES all of the time.”

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Through her commitment to health and fitness, Denisse helped establish On The Edge Nutrition, which is introducing healthy alternatives to residents in South Boston.

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“Metro Housing has definitely been an amazing resource. I’ve worked with different case workers throughout my time in the program, but they have all guided me, encouraged me, and motivated me. I can’t be thankful enough.”