Part of what I love most about my job is that we make a great impact on the lives of others. From teachers to caregivers and seniors to firefighters – we are all affected by the availability of affordable housing. Here are a few snippets of heartwarming stories we have.

Velma was homeless before she found a place to call home at Villages of Moa‘e Kῡ in Ewa Beach, Hawaii. She spent several years living at local homeless shelters but never lost hope for a brighter future. Then she heard about Villages of Moa‘e Kῡ. She was accepted into the program and was one of the first residents to move in.

“I moved in on my son’s birthday, so we celebrated his birthday in a new house,” Velma said.

I’m so glad that we were able to provide Velma and her son something extra special to celebrate on that day.

Villages of Moa‘e Kῡ provides Velma a sense of relief and community. The buildings are arranged around a play area for children of the community and Velma sometimes spends time watching the children play. She also relaxes by gardening and sharing homemade treats with her neighbors. Velma appreciates the sense of community and the proximity to nearby shopping centers, grocery stores and access to local parks.

“My life has improved 100 percent since I moved. Thank you for helping us get here and for making Moa‘e Kῡ a wonderful place to live,” Velma said.

You’re welcome, Velma!

Although he recently moved to Camellia Place in Dublin, California, Zakhar is already enjoying his new home and a newfound sense of independence. Zakhar, an adult with a disability, used to live with his mother until he decided that he wanted to start relying more on himself. He found Camellia Place through East Bay Innovations (EBI), a non-profit organization based in San Leandro that helps empower adults with disabilities to live independently.

Before moving to Camellia Place, Zakhar had a two-hour commute by both train and bus. Now it takes him 30 minutes on one bus to get to work. He can also easily take the bus to the supermarket or walk to the train station when he wants to visit his mom. With an affordable place to live and convenient public transportation, Zakhar can focus on other things as he adjusts to living on his own, like learning to cook and making sure his job at Lowe’s goes well.

I’m supportive of Zakhar 100 percent! Living in a housing community is a great way to get acclimated to an independent life.

For over a decade, Trisha Follins worked as a preschool teacher in Sausalito, California. From the beginning, Trisha knew she was getting into a profession that wasn’t known for high wages, but followed her passion because she loves working with young children.

Trisha was looking to move her son to a different school so he wouldn’t be bullied, but she discovered it was impossible to find a place she could afford on her salary. The median salary for a preschool teacher is too low to afford the average one-bedroom apartment in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The San Francisco Bay Area affordable housing crisis has been going on for years. It’s events like these that make living in the area nearly impossible for anyone who isn’t working in Silicon Valley. Fortunately, your housing community was able to step in.

Trisha and her son now live in Drake’s Way, Marin’s latest example of a housing community that is innovative, green, and affordable. “Where we lived before wasn’t good for my son,” she said, “but now he’s doing great in school.” She feels lucky and wishes all moms could have the same choice she had.