Home for the Holidays
When the first family moved into Columbus Place, in December of 2013, Guillermo was very excited for Christmas. The 9-year-old boy who loved Lego and Star Wars already had the best present he could ask for — a home.
Guillermo and his parents, Nelly and Armando, have known homelessness. Thanks to Forward Housing, this family has had a stable and affordable home for over six years and are thriving. “It’s great, it’s a big difference,” says Armando from the family’s living room at Columbus Place, an affordable and supported housing property owned by Forward.
The family lived at Inn from the Cold for eight months, after Armando lost his job. His wife has a medical condition and is unable to work, leaving the family destitute. “We are very grateful to Inn from the Cold,” he says. “But a shelter is not the right place for our son, or any kid.”
Forward agrees. Having traditionally housed seniors, we have evolved into an agency that offers affordable housing to the entire community; seniors, adults and families with low income. The first family of Columbus Place received a warm reception when they moved in and have called Columbus Place home for six years and counting. Since then, Columbus Place has welcomed several more families into the building which has created a very warm and inclusive community for all.
The seniors in the building continue to embrace the families that have moved in. “They’re very friendly, especially with my son,” says Armando. “He’s the king right now. They bring him cookies and everything.” Inna, one of the senior tenants, says, “They’re a lovely family. The boy is very polite.”
Armando is working again but his wages aren’t high enough to pay market rent and support his family. They have experienced a rollercoaster of struggles since they moved in including job loss and additional medical complications, however, have maintained their housing thanks to FHA’s affordable rental model. Unfortunately, their story isn’t an anomaly; there are many families and individuals in Calgary that struggle to cover all their basic needs with their current income. Whether it be minimum wage, government supports, unemployment or pension income, many Calgarians are often forced to choose between basic needs to keep a roof over their heads. Forward is dedicated to ensuring all Calgarians have a safe and affordable place to call home, which is why places like Columbus Place exist.
There are over 3,000 Calgarians currently experiencing homelessness, and more than 14,000 households at extreme risk of becoming homeless. You can help make home a reality for individuals like Marcos by donating to Onward Homes.
