Tonya,* an East Bay native and licensed aesthetician, ran her own salon, and business was good. Then she learned she was pregnant—something her doctors had always said was impossible. It was a high-risk pregnancy. Tonya was hospitalized for three full months, until her son arrived in a premature birth.

After that, “I was deeply in debt,” she remembers. Looking for stability, Tonya began attending classes at a local community college. But it was a struggle to manage work, credit woes, and a new baby. Her partner, who had been controlling in the past, became violent. Then she learned she was pregnant again.

When we met Tonya, she had been living with her toddler and newborn in her car for most of a year. Vulnerable children. Sleep. Food. Hygiene. Safety. Every aspect of life was precarious. “It was rough. I was on the alert while they slept,” she says.

At our Family Front Door site, Tonya got help with transportation costs, diapers, food, and community resources like childcare and preschool for her sons. She says working with a therapist helped a lot, too.

Michelle Beacham, Tonya’s case manager, remembers, “When she learned she had gotten an apartment through Building Futures’ partnership with the City of Oakland and the Oakland Housing Authority, she said, ‘Now I can get back on track and make a difference in my children’s lives.’ She is resilient.” After moving into their new apartment, Tonya and her sons received a Building Futures Move-In Kit to help equip their new home with kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom essentials.

Today, Tonya is back in school, working toward her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Her sons attend daycare and preschool just a few blocks from home. Michelle Beacham speaks proudly of her. “Her household is set up and her boys are well cared-for. It is an inspiration to witness her hard work to have something better for herself and her kids.”

Building Futures is uniquely equipped to serve those experiencing both homelessness and domestic violence, with a range of programs and partners. “Building Futures changed my life. Changed my children’s future,” Tonya says simply. “Because of their help, I can be a better mother and provider.” 

*Name has been changed