Supportive housing at Cranberry Ridge brings Sasha’s family back together
Written by Dylan Novacek, Content Specialist
Sasha is a mother of four who is dedicated to giving her kids the best life possible. Describing herself as a second-generation Native American and Puerto Rican, she values her family’s background and identity.
When her family became separated and without a stable home, Sasha was determined to bring everyone back under one roof. The following is Sasha’s reflection on her journey to finding stable housing and how Cranberry Ridge became the solution for housing stability that her family needed.
Everything I do is for my kids. They mean the world to me.
We’re a big family and all depend on each other. Mornings getting ready for our day together and nights spent watching our favorite shows were suddenly cut short when we lost the stability of a home for us all. We were separated and I moved into a sober living situation.
Going through this was traumatic, but also came with a lot of growth. Being separated from my kids propelled me in a direction committed to family reunification. But before I could bring us all back together, I would need to find a safe and stable home.
I realized immediately that there weren’t enough resources out there for a family like mine to get back on their feet. The search took almost a year. And I know other families have had to wait even longer. There are countless roadblocks that keep people from finding the stability they need.
For me, I didn’t have long-term income or a working car. Going through a recovery journey and missing my kids dearly meant a lot was weighing on my heart. So, imagine my relief when I found Cranberry Ridge.
Upon visiting the building for the first time, I was so impressed. I never thought there could be affordable housing like this in Plymouth. Most supportive affordable housing I’ve seen is in places that wouldn’t fit the needs of our big family. Being able to be in the suburbs is a pleasant surprise.
We’re a mile away from my kid’s grandma, who has been one of my only supports throughout this experience, and we’re close to good schools.
Living at Cranberry Ridge has been a healing opportunity for our family.
Having access to the onsite services from Interfaith Outreach has been helpful in our healing journey. We’ve become connected to mental health care, their food shelf, financial services, and even their coat donation closet. It’s nice to know someone has our backs.
Interfaith Outreach’s presence in the building has helped build a strong community, and one that my family is so thankful to be in. There are so many opportunities to get involved in, like monthly community meals. My kids have volunteered to serve at the dinners, and we’ve gotten to meet other families like our own. It helps to know we’re not alone in what we’ve experienced, and we have neighbors we can count on.
Living in this supportive environment has changed everything for my family. I’ve seen my kids grow in new ways.
My oldest is 20-years old and is working hard to complete a high school diploma. My youngest is 7-years old and has finally been able to make lasting friendships. Being reunited has meant all of us have been able to eat meals together, confront the challenges of our past, and heal for a brighter future. We’ve all found our voices.
For me, finding my voice has meant working a job I care about. When I moved to Cranberry Ridge, I became connected to Bridging, a nonprofit that furnishes homes for people exiting instability and homelessness. When I moved in all I had was my camping gear, so they helped me get what I needed to make my kids comfortable at home. When I learned they were hiring, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity for me. It was a full circle moment.
(Pictured: Sasha’s staff headshot from Bridging.)
I love seeing clients thrive. It’s so validating seeing everything come together when a person is moved into their home, surrounded by all the comforts they need.
Working at Bridging and living at Cranberry Ridge has shown me the importance of home. For me, home is being with my kids. I need them to know this place belongs to them, and that they are safe here. All people need a place like that. A home where they don’t just survive but thrive.
Every day at work I see people who have struggled to find a home. I know firsthand how hard it can be to exit homelessness when there are other issues, like addiction and domestic violence. And I know firsthand how hard it is to get out of situations like that.
I’ve applied for housing assistance so many times. Every time there was an opening for Section 8, it would be gone before the website could load. I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating it is to be stuck on a waitlist while managing an untenable situation.
There are too many things that restrict families like mine from getting into a home, like the lack of affordable housing and years-long waitlists. And that’s why I am so glad homes like Cranberry Ridge exist.
I believe we need more homes like Cranberry Ridge because being here has given my kids the chance to stabilize, find the resources they need, and make friends in a beautiful community. Being in one spot has made all the difference in the world as we’ve come back together.
Right now, my family revolves around recovery and healing. After being separated as a family, we’re putting the pieces back together, confronting our past traumas, and working on building a secure tomorrow. All of that has been made easier by having a home of our own at Cranberry Ridge.
