Yrmaris’s Story

Yrmaris lost her job in 2020, right as COVID-19 took hold of the community. She searched for employment despite the shutdown—but the pandemic left her with few options. Weeks without an income turned into months—until she could no longer afford her rent. Facing homelessness with her two small children, Yrmaris had no choice but to move into the small apartment her sister shared with her own children. Space was tight. But it was a place to live. Before long after moving in with her sister, Yrmaris saw growing emotional distress in her 9-year-old son, Anthony. This is not uncommon. The impact of crowded living, lack of routine, and tension over time living in housing insecurity often cause a sense of instability and fear in children.

Yrmaris sought help from the social worker at Anthony’s school in Roxbury. And that led her to Project Hope Boston. “I struggled at first to ask for help,” Yrmaris remembers. “But how are other people going to know that you need help if you don’t ask for it? I learned at Project Hope that when someone extends their hand to help you, it’s like help from God.” To get the family back on its feet, Project Hope’s Housing Services team first accessed available funding to help with any back rent or utilities Yrmaris owed. They then worked with her to identify and pursue housing programs offered by the City of Boston. “I connected Yrmaris to resources and then guided her through a process to secure stable housing,” said Project Hope Family Partner Paulette Mendes. “But she made it happen. She was determined to have her children in their own home, and she did it.” Paulette lives by Project Hope’s mission to partner with families on a pathway up and out of poverty.

With the stress of housing instability behind her, Yrmaris could shift her focus to personal and family goals. Today she works as a Parent Mentor at her son’s school, as well as a community advocate, making sure parents are educated about the issues that matter to their families. She channels her culinary arts expertise with her passion for teaching by offering free cooking classes to the parents. “I teach them how to take ingredients they might already have in their pantry and turn that into a gourmet meal. It’s quick and easy and it is also affordable, which is key when you’re a parent with limited income.”

Last year Yrmaris completed a six-month professional development program at Project Hope to become a Project Hope Ambassador. She now lends her voice to help policymakers, donors, and community organizers better understand the experience of the many Boston families like hers who confront housing insecurity each year. Yrmaris reminds us that, “The word ‘hope’ says a lot. It says that you can do better for yourself.”