A Whole New Me: How Housing Choices Helped a Family Find Their Roots

For years, Rachel and her two sons lived in unstable and often unsuitable housing situations, frequently moving and at times sharing space with hostile subleasers. Without a permanent home, they moved nearly every year—often renting a single room and navigating uncomfortable living situations that made it impossible to feel secure. For Rachel’s son Nathan, who has a developmental disability, the lack of space and understanding was especially difficult.

“People weren’t open-minded,” Rachel shared. “They didn’t see that he has a disability and that if he doesn’t understand something, he reacts differently. It was hard for people to accept that, and it made housing feel impossible.”

In their previous living situations, Rachel was not even allowed to have guests over, which meant Nathan couldn’t receive the therapies and services he needed, such as ABA therapy or in-home support staff. The family was forced to navigate daily life in environments that offered no privacy, limited autonomy, and little compassion.

That all began to change in September 2024, when Rachel was awarded a Housing Choice Voucher and had support from Housing Choices Housing Coordinator Rafael Garcia. Rachel almost missed the opportunity as the notice was sent to an old address, but she happened to check her school email that day and saw the message. “I forwarded it to Raphael and asked, ‘Is this real?’ And he said, ‘Yes, do you want me to help you apply?’ He did a wonderful job walking me through it.”

Raphael worked closely with her to identify available homes and navigate the application process. “He was constantly showing me apartments. We applied to three or four properties, and even when I wasn’t feeling hopeful, he never gave up,” Rachel said. “Just knowing that someone was out there actively fighting for my family—that’s what gave me hope.”

In October 2024, just one month after receiving the voucher, Rachel and her sons moved into a three-bedroom home in King City, their preferred regional area. With help from the City of Salinas, she received deposit assistance, and through the Housing Choices Wishbook Grant, she obtained essential household items to turn the new space into a true home.

The home became more than just a place to live, it became a foundation for transformation. “It felt like winning the lottery. It’s a beautiful home with fruit trees, a fenced yard, which is perfect for Nathan—and locked side gates to keep him safe,” Rachel said. For the first time, she could run therapy sessions in her own space and have IHSS staff support Nathan inside the home.

“Before, I couldn’t even bring people over. Now, I finally have my own space where I can support my son the way he deserves. It’s been life-changing.”

Raphael’s persistence and guidance ensured that nothing fell through the cracks.

Rachel’s stability at home also led to professional growth. She has now been with the school district for nearly 10 years and recently became the director of an afterschool program, overseeing 13 classrooms and 247 students. She takes great pride in the work she does and now, in the home she returns to at the end of the day.

“I’m a whole new me. I went from working part-time and living out of rooms to leading an entire afterschool program and managing a household where my kids can feel safe and proud,” she said. “This program gave me hope. And sometimes that’s all you need, knowing someone out there is actively fighting for your family to be in a better place.”

Rachel continues to stay involved with Housing Choices and plans to renew her lease and maintain services to keep her family stable and secure. “I take pride in my home,” she said. “I keep it clean, well cared for, and full of love because I know how far we’ve come. I don’t take that for granted.”

Raphael shared, “As my client’s Housing Coordinator, knowing how much the family struggled before when living with a hostile subleaser, I feel extremely content knowing that the client’s family obtained their voucher and are living in a unit big enough for the family and for them to call ‘home.’”