1. Transforming
Housing Families Inc. Newsletter j Fall 2014 housingfamilies.org
Lives
Housing Families Inc. (HFI) is finding new ways to
bring therapy and tutoring to homeless children. Thanks
to your support, we have continued to grow to serve
more kids than ever in our GREAT Youth and Families
Program.
When children enter our shelter, they are often wounded.
They are frightened. They have one bag filled with their
clothes and have left behind their home, their friends,
their toys, and their sense of self.
With the support of donors like you, we help children
heal and grow. You help to provide a warm, safe place
that they can call home; school supplies; and a stable
place for kids to learn academic skills to help them
catch up to their peers. One of our kids meeting a kid!
In the GREAT Youth and Families
Program, kids can be kids again.
You are helping more kids than ever before
Tenancy Skills Workshops
Build Long-Term Success
Providing quality shelter and housing is only a part of
what we do at HFI. We want to help our families build
skills for long term success. Our case managers work
with families to identify their needs and challenges,
but also their strengths and aspirations.
Part of this effort includes Tenancy Skills Workshops
for families. Families learn how to manage a household
budget, clean and maintain a home, communicate in
a timely manner with their landlord, and understand
their lease.
Through intensive case
management, coupled with
these targeted workshops,
families become stable,
and never again face the
risk of homelessness in
their lives.
Art Therapy Helps Children
Affected by Trauma
The GREAT Youth and Families Program
provides play and art therapy to help
children find new outlets for their emo-
tions. Young kids who have experienced
trauma are often unable to describe how
they feel. For example, they may feel
embarrassment, but express rage. As you
can imagine, these outbursts negatively
affect the children when they are at home
or in school, where adults believe they are misbehaving.
In an art therapy environment, kids can express them-
selves through art, music, and movement. One recent
project involved kids creating masks—one side showed
what they felt inside, the reverse side represented what
they showed to the outside world.
The shame that accompanies homelessness does not
only belong to adults. Children feel the same stress and
need to learn coping skills to become healthy adults.
“They gave me hope! That’s how I turned my whole life around.”
This is Patricia and her daughter Alexandra. Visit our website to hear their story:
http://housingfamilies.org/news-events/videos/stories-from-homeless-families/
The “I have a dream” project—
one of the activities kids
can participate in during our
after-school programming.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Malden Cultural Council,
a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a
state agency.

2. HOUSING FAMILIES INC j FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER
HFI and Raising A Reader
Work Together
Helping Pre-School Aged Children and their Parents
Bond Through Books
This year our children’s program began working with
a national non-profit organization, Raising A Reader.
Raising A Reader provides pre-school aged children
with early literacy intervention by training parents to
read with kids to promote early brain development.
The first five years of a child’s life are crucial years for
brain development. According to research, by the age of
3, children from low-income homes miss an average of
30 million words as compared to their peers. This begins
the achievement gap prior to starting kindergarten!
Since parents are their children’s first teachers, it is vital
to teach parents the tools they need to create a positive
environment with their kids around interactive reading
and interpreting new books. Parents and tutors are able
to practice asking open-ended questions, using animated
expressions and voices for each character, etc.
We give each child books to borrow and keep. This way,
each child—regardless of income—will have access to
books!
HFI is so excited to introduce these new strategies into
our expanding programs for pre-school aged children.
We are excited to introduce
you to our new AmeriCorps
VISTAs (Volunteers In Service
To America) for 2014-2015:
Bryce Johnson, from Raleigh,
NC, and Hilary Wolkan,
from Ann Arbor, MI.
Bryce, the Volunteer
Recruitment Specialist VISTA
at Housing Families, studied sociology at Appalachian
State University, and joined AmeriCorps not only to be
able to work in his area of interest, but also to gain more
firsthand experience with poverty. Hilary, the Communica-
tions and Development Support VISTA, is originally a
student of archaeology and realized during graduate
school that she actually wanted to dedicate her life to
fighting poverty. AmeriCorps is a way for her to not only
gain experience, but also to network in Boston, where
she would like to stay after her service year ends.
Both VISTAS joined HFI in early August, have settled
into life in Boston quite easily, and are already very
passionate about their work with us. “Our goal to end
homelessness is our top priority,” Bryce said, “which
means a constant desire to help others.” Hilary echoed
this sentiment, saying “We focus on alleviating the
symptoms of homelessness, but we also strive to
prevent it before it even occurs.”
In addition to their enthusiasm for Housing Families’
mission, they appreciate the workplace environment.
“The team not only is incredibly friendly and encouraging,
they also promote creativity and new ideas,” Hilary
remarked. Bryce put it most simply: “I could not have
picked a better family to join.”
Bryce and Hilary will be with us until August 2015.
We are so happy to welcome them to our family!
Our volunteers make our program possible. One-on-one tutoring and interactive
reading help children make gains in school.
Please Welcome our new “family” members to the team
Would you like to learn more about AmeriCorps VISTA?
VISTA is the national service program focused specifically on fighting
poverty throughout America. Established in 1964, VISTA members make
a year-long, full-time commitment to work for non-profits to help
alleviate the causes and symptoms of poverty, providing organizational,
administrative, and financial services for literacy, health services,
housing, or other programs for low-income communities. Read more at:
http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps/americorps-vista.

3. HOUSING FAMILIES INC j FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER
Community
How a piece of pizza can
deliver hope for a bright future
It can be challenging to find time to do all of the things
you want to do in a day, a week, or even a year—
Especially while running a business or managing a family.
We are lucky to live in a community of very caring people
who call and ask us how they can help. One such person
is Malden business owner Joe Crowley of Pisa Pizza.
This summer, Joe, along with electrical union employees
with Dorchester-based IBEW Local Union 2222, decided
to join forces to give kids some great new experiences.
The union workers pooled their donations weekly to
allow our kids to attend field trips, and then the kids
stopped into Pisa Pizza for lunch and some pizza-
flipping tutorials.
The chefs taught each child how to stretch and create
their own pizzas. The kids even received their own
Pizza Diplomas!
Joe became quite an inspiration to our kids as he
explained that his successful Italian restaurant was the
result of hard work and dedication. As a self-starter, Joe
can relate to the struggles that face urban youth. He
advised our teens to focus on their school assignments
and always work hard, and their dreams can be achieved.
Joe is well known in the Malden community for being a
very generous man. He can be found running fundraising
programs that allow schools and sports groups to raise
money for new uniforms, sports programs, field trips, etc.
Without these generous individuals, this summer’s
programs would not have been the same. Thank you
for joining our family!
A chef from Pisa Pizza teaching the
kids how to make their own pizzas.
The kids with Joe Crowley, owner of Pisa Pizza.
Thank you for a wonderful summer full of activities!
A successful pizza flip!
Adding the final touches.
Bowling after Pizza. What a wonderful
way to spend a Thursday!
Jim Goebelbecker, CEOof Housing Families andJoe Crowley, owner ofMalden-based Pisa Pizza.
Businesses Giving Back

4. HOUSING FAMILIES INC j FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER
A
s the leaves change and we get ready for our
holiday events and drives, the HFI Advocacy
Group has been bustling around Greater Boston
in order to represent not only HFI families, but also
those across the state of Massachusetts.
The group visited Senator Jason Lewis and
Representative Paul Brodeur at the State House and
shared their stories about their own personal experiences
with homelessness. They also advocated for more
funding for housing subsidy programs such as the
Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, and a change
in policy regarding eligibility for emergency shelters.
The Advocacy Group isn’t only a mechanism to enact
change: it also provides a necessary platform to promote
self-confidence and value to the families participating.
“It is a place where I can make my voice heard to the
right people. I like the support I find in this group. We’re
on the same page and going through the same things,”
HFI client Yoldie explained.
The Rodriguez Family echoed this sentiment: “The
Advocacy Group has given me a chance to voice
my opinion and share any solutions I think may help
people in similar situations to myself.”
Notably, six of the women in the group were selected
to participate in a leadership development course in
October, sponsored by Homes for Families, where
they have learned skills to help them in the business field.
Homes for Families is a partner organization that works
with HFI to build powerful relationships between home-
less and formerly homeless families, shelter/service
providers, concerned citizens, the business community,
government and others who share the goal of ending
family homelessness.
The Advocacy Group was formed to provide an arena for
the HFI families to tell their stories and make an impact
on the policies and legislation that affect them. With eight
core leaders and new members attending every month,
the group rallies together to help in voter registration
drives, share their experience with journalists, and visit
their state representatives and senators.
The Housing Families Advocacy Group met with Senator Jason Lewis and
Representative Paul Brodeur at the State House to share the struggles facing
homeless families and the importance of investing in the Massachusetts
Rental Voucher Program.
HFI Advocacy Group Visits the State House
There are several ways you can help
support the Advocacy Group’s work:
To get involved or if you’d like to be informed of upcoming
legislation concerning homelessness, please contact Laura
Rosi at lrosi@housingfamilies.org or 781-322-9119 x 306.
for sending us back-to-school with loveYouYou helped us complete another successful school supply drive! And because
of schools, organizations, businesses and individuals like you, over 250 kids
started their school year with new backpacks, school supplies, and a smile!
Pictured in photo: Kids helping kids! Students from Shining Stars Nursery school bring donations to Housing Families.
Thank

5. • Children’s program tutoring/child care
—volunteer just one hour/week and help
a child succeed in school. No experience
is necessary.
• Donate group meals for meetings.
• Donate healthy snacks for tutoring.
• “Adopt” our van—help with gas cards
and/or donations for van repairs so that
the children can get to our award-winning
academic and therapeutic programming.
• Volunteer at events or in our
administrative offices.
• Organize a drive—we have seasonal
needs such as back-to-school items and
toys for the holidays as well as yearly
needs, such as household cleaning
items, disposable diapers, linens,
and other home goods.
• Paint units before families move in,
repair fences, plant in the garden, etc.
• Check our Amazon wish list—
http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/
wishlist/—search for Housing Families.
• Tell us what you’d like to do. Let’s
find a way to work your talents into a
service project.
HOUSING FAMILIES INC j FALL 2014 NEWSLETTER
If you’ve stopped by the GREAT Youth and Families
Program lately, you’ll notice that the building is more
a-buzz than normal. With the addition of two Common-
wealth Corps members, Housing Families’ excitement is
understandable. This year, Malden-natives Robert Collins
and Paul Collins will serve as academic enrichment assis-
tants with the children’s program.
When asked about their passion for joining HFI, both
Robert and Paul replied that they felt strongly about
giving back to the community. Robert explained that he
not only wanted to help those experiencing homeless-
ness, but he also wanted to help the community he lives
in. Paul echoed these sentiments:
But civic duty isn’t the only reason the Commonwealth
Corps members love working at Housing Families:
they also share a deep appreciation for HFI’s mission.
“I think what this organization and all of its workers do for
families and children is amazing” said Robert. His brother,
Paul, with whom he volunteered last year at HFI, shares
Robert’s esteem for the organization: “The words that I
feel best describe what I always see [at HFI] include
passion, dedication, determination, pride, and support.”
Brothers Paul and Robert Collins have joined Housing Families as Commonwealth
Corps Volunteers.
I wanted to give back to my community,
to give those who haven’t had it so easy the
strength to know they’re not alone.
Malden Brothers Give Back to Their Community
We need you! Without volunteers we would not be able to run our programs and help
over 300 families each year. Take a look at these opportunities to get involved and let
us know how you, or a group you belong to, would like to help:
GET Involved!
Our group of supporters
from Bond Bros., Inc. on
their annual Day of Service.
Staff from Whole Foods Market in
Melrose planted an urban garden
at our Cross Street location.
Continuing our community partnership, customers of Whole
Foods Market in Melrose donated over $2,000 to Housing
Families throughout the month of August. Thank you!
Please visit our website www.housingfamilies.org for
more details about volunteer opportunities and stories
from our families, or give us a call at 781-322-9119.

6. You Are Helping Kids in School,
and Throughout Life
Eddie is 8 years old. His family has been in and out of
stable housing situations since before he was born.
Currently in the second grade, he has already attended
three different schools.
In each new school, he has had to make new friends
while still missing the friends from his last school. He also
struggles academically, as the curriculum between his
schools varies greatly.
The stress of homelessness is not just carried by
parents. Children feel it too, and it affects them deeply.
In our GREAT Youth and Families Program, we help kids
like Eddie advance in school. We help them learn to
understand and express their feelings. We connect them
with other peers who have experienced homelessness,
so that they know that they’re not alone.
Designby:OneVisualMind•Printedby:HannafordandDumasCommercialPrinters
OUR MISSION Providing safe, temporary shelter and
quality affordable housing to homeless and at-risk families.
Offering individualized supportive services to enrich children’s
lives, nurture the potential of each family member, and help
families maintain permanent housing. Learn more and donate
at housingfamilies.org or contact Jim Goebelbecker at
781-322-9119 or email at jgoebelbecker@housingfamilies.org.
Adelaide Breed Bayrd Foundation
Jay & Christy Cashman
Demos, Peter & Carly Kouvaris
The Berylson Family Trust
The Doe Family Foundation
Paul & Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation
to our generous supporters
ThankYou
HANNAFORD & DUMAS
C O M M E R C I A L P R I N T E R S
354 Cross Street, Malden, MA 02148
These kids have been through
what I’ve been through!
Marlain DeJesus GREAT Youth and Families
Program Alumna, HFI Board Member, & 2012
HFI Gala Honoree. Hear Marlain’s story.
Visit http://housingfamilies.org/news-events/videos/
housingfamilies.org
Housing Families Inc.
@HousingFamilies
Housing Families Inc.