Two months ago, Tarnette Pinnock was living in a family shelter with her two sons.
“I felt stuck,” Tarnette said. “I was living in one room with two boys, and the stress was building up.”
She was homeless, and living in a congregate family shelter, Children’s Services, in Roxbury, when BHA called with the good news. She was approved for a new Housing Choice Voucher, and would receive a rental subsidy on her next apartment. The timing could not have been better.
“When my whole process started, COVID-19 was ramping up, so I’m glad I was able to move in when I did.” Tarnette said. “Once things got started, the whole process was very fast and efficient.”
As Boston residents shelter in place, BHA has adapted to the Coronavirus public health emergency and continued to work with applicants to secure vouchers and housing placements. Hundreds of BHA staff continue to work on the front lines to help families in need.
“Two weeks after we moved in, my five-year-old said to me ‘Mommy, I love our new house!’” Pinnock said. “Now my sons can walk around and have their own room. It’s a whole different feeling. It’s unbelievable.”
While BHA has continued to issue vouchers, there are currently more than five hundred BHA voucher families living in shelter, who are searching for a permanent home in the Boston area. With the Coronavirus emergency underway, it’s become more important than ever to reduce overcrowding in Boston’s homeless shelters. By renting to a BHA voucher holder, landlords are guaranteed rent in uncertain financial times, while helping families who are in need safe, decent affordable housing to find much needed stability.
When landlords make an apartment available to a voucher family, they are changing lives, making our city safer, and helping themselves secure a recession-proof source of rental income.
Now settled into a safe and permanent home in Dorchester, Tarnette plans to attend nursing school once the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Landlords who are interested in helping voucher families like Tarnette’s secure permanent housing can reach out to the Boston Housing Authority through bostonhousing.org/helpfamilies.