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Our Residents

Housing First keeps families secure in their homes

Housing First keeps families secure in their homes

Matthew Anderson and his partner, Jennifer Buckley, didn’t plan on being homeless.

But that sad state is exactly what happened to them last year. And living in a Chicopee hotel room for nearly a year with their four-year-old was no picnic.

“It was very hard for our son Jayden,” admitted Buckley. “He just didn’t like it. We all wanted a home, someplace to go that was our own.”

Anderson and Buckley lost their apartment when the building was condemned, sending them instantly into a situation where they couldn’t afford the security deposit and up-front rent to quickly relocated. Instead, they joined the nearly 2,000 families across the state living in hotels as a temporary solution that for many drags into months, and even years.

Seated in front of Springfield Housing Authority's Housing FIrst Staffers are Jennifer Buckley, Matthew Anderson, and their son Jayden Porter-Anderson, 6.

Standing in the back, left to right, are Grisel Lebron, Housing First program case manager, Cinnamon Smith, Home City Families playgroup facilitator, and Pamela Wells, Spinrgfield Housing Authority Resident Srvices Manager. Seated in front are Jennifer Buckley, Matthew Anderson, and their son Jayden Porter-Anderson, 6.

But fortune – in the form of Springfield Housing Authority’s Housing First program – was with them. After living several months in the Quality Inn in Chicopee, they connected with the Housing Authority and found an apartment within two months at John J. Duggan Apartments in the Indian Orchard section of the city.

Their total hotel stay: Ten months.

Their gratitude to SHA and Housing First: Incalculable.

“Housing First was the most helpful thing ever. Without it, we’d probably still be homeless,” said Anderson.

Matthew Anderson and Jennifer Buckley volunteering at the Western Massachusetts Food Bank distribution at SHA's Moxon Apartments

Matthew Anderson and Jennifer Buckley volunteering at the Western Massachusetts Food Bank distribution at SHA’s Moxon Apartments

Housing First is a state Department of Housing and Community Development program that helps homeless families find safe and suitable housing, and then follows up with a year or more of support to keep them stable and happy. The SHA has an annual state grant to run a program for 35 families who are transitioning from homeless to housing.

SHA Resident Services Director Pamela Wells said the program has proven popular and effective in its 10 years here.

“It’s been very successful. We basically case-manage them,” Wells explained. “They become tenants, and work with them to keep them stable and on track. Any issues that they face, especially those that impact their ability to stay in housing, become the focus.”

Caseworkers Yaritza Figueroa, Grisel Lebron and Marissa Perez, and their supervisor Magda Rodriguez, make regular visits with families in the program. There are also weekly gatherings that focus on parenting, financial literacy and life and job skills meant aimed at stability.

“We help families become self-sufficient,” said Lebron.

Housing First families gather weekly at Springfield Housing Authority.

Housing First families gather weekly at Springfield Housing Authority.

For Anderson and Buckley, that is exactly what happened. They are happy in their new home and their son, now 7, is flourishing both in the neighborhood and in school.

“The most important thing for us was finding affordable housing,” Anderson said. “It means everything to us. We love it where we are.”

Added Buckley, “Housing First gave us the foundation that we needed to be stable. They don’t just cut you loose. They stick with you and help you when you need that.”

Both Anderson and Buckley, lifelong Springfield residents, now spend as much time as possible giving back. Besides attending all Housing First family sessions, they are frequent volunteers at SHA Resident Services events.

One such event brings them to Moxon Apartments every other Thursday for a neighborhood food giveaway sponsored by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. The pair arrive early and help SHA volunteers and Food Bank staffers set up tables, greet visitors and help pass out fresh fruits, vegetables and dry goods.

“They’re helping us, so we’re helping them,” said Anderson.

3489 days ago / Our Residents
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