With an eye on the future
Nicole has her feet planted firmly on the ground and is looking forward to what is next

Simpson Family Housing participant Nicole and her six-month-old son Kaden were having lunch at a Potbelly’s sandwich shop when a butterfly landed on his head. She threw up her arms in joy and proclaimed “Butterflies are good luck!” Nicole has always loved butterflies. She says that in her next life, she hopes to come back as one of the lucky little creatures.

Lately Nicole has been doing her own part to get luck on her side. She moved into her bright one-bedroom apartment across the street from a park and a flower garden a few months ago. She is getting the wheels in motion to get her G.E.D. and she is facing some issues from her past head-on with the help of a counselor.Life in the sunny apartment in southeast Minneapolis is looking pretty good.

Last December Nicole was referred to Simpson by her social worker and soon entered the Simpson Housing First program geared towards families who have experienced long-term homelessness. For Nicole, it had been over ten years.

At age 11, abuse drove her onto the streets. A bout of numbing the pain with drugs followed. “I have had issues with anger because growing up I never was able to express my emotions. You don’t change these things overnight, it takes baby steps. I want to make sure that I will be the best parent that I can be.”
Judging from happy six-month-old Kaden, things are going pretty well.

Nicole has big goals for her life. With the help of her Simpson advocate Nikki, she is working on plans to make them happen. When she has completed her G.E.D. she would like to go to school to become a massage therapist, eventually owning her own small-business. And in five years, she would like to be in her own house. “Somewhere near a lake would be great, where we can boat, fish and have a flower garden.”
And she would love a chance to travel, most particularly to Italy. Nicole is one half Italian. “I would love to learn about my heritage,” she says.

“You have to remember that things do get better,” she says. “Life is what you make of it. And you are the only one who can make it better.” Nicole is doing just that.

LaTonya's New Home

La Tonya’s new home is one of those houses where everyone gathers: family, friends, and neighbors. And no matter who they are, everyone calls LaTonya mom. “I’m so happy. Everybody likes it here; they say it has a good vibe. Nobody ever wants to leave.”

La Tonya’s house does have a good vibe. It’s a big, sprawling two story with an enormous basement. There’s a front porch just waiting to be used this summer and the kids couldn’t wait for spring so that they could play on their huge new lawn. When you enter the front door you are greeted by a pristinely set dining room table and a farmhouse-sized kitchen where LaTonya and her daughter Shanique love to cook together. And the youngest son Stephon loves to eat what they create. The living room is the hub of activity where the family has movie nights, does puzzles together, and laughs a lot.

Family is a big part of what makes this house a special place. It’s the kind of family that you don’t often see. Everyone takes care of everyone. Grandma and Grandpa spend time with the kids. LaTonya chuckles and says “The kids just love Mom and Dad.” And Grandma beams with pride as LaTonya’s oldest son Shain brings out a set of artistic pens he made in shop class, and as she shows us drawings Rikwon has done. Rikwon is the family artist.

LaTonya and her long-time partner Robert have taken in her sister’s kids, and along with their own three kids, and Grandpa and Grandma, it makes a big happy household. Their new house has allowed them to do what is most important to LaTonya; to keep the family together.

LaTonya has faced a lot of challenges through the years, but faces each day with hope, excitement and gratitude. “I loved everyone I worked with at Simpson. I’m so thankful to the Family Housing program for helping us get to where we are at.”

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