Cindy is a single mom supporting her family through janitorial work – a physically demanding job made even harder as the cost of living continues to rise.
She wishes people understood how constant the struggle to pay rent can be. “Wages don’t keep pace with rents at places I’ve lived in the past,” she explains. Before moving to Colibri Commons, Cindy and her children shared a house with another family. While it provided shelter, it wasn’t a home. Coordinating use of the shared kitchen and bathrooms was a frequent challenge, and there was no safe or reliable place for her children to play.
Today, at Colibri Commons, the family is thriving in a space of their own. Essential features like on-site laundry make a meaningful difference. Cindy no longer has to dedicate an entire weekend afternoon to traveling to a laundromat; instead, she can manage loads from home while her kids play with friends from other Colibri Commons families.
Looking ahead, Cindy hopes more families like hers will have access to affordable housing. “Rent and other necessities are so expensive,” she says. “Living at Colibri has allowed me to spend less of my income on rent, so I can put those extra funds toward my family.”