Meet Vanessa

Vanessa and her family have been living at Franmar Manor since April 2022. She first learned about the affordable community from her best friend and former resident. At the time, Vanessa was experiencing homelessness, living in her car and without a consistent place to stay.

Moving into Franmar Manor changed Vanessa’s life. Most importantly, it gave her children a roof over their heads—a safe place to eat, sleep, and shower. Her favorite part of living there is simply having a space to call their own, surrounded by a close-knit community that looks out for one another. The on-site playground is a bonus for her kids, and the fact that the housing is affordable has made all the difference.

Vanessa deeply values the sense of community at Franmar. She enjoys supporting her neighbors, who in turn support her. She especially looks out for the seniors living upstairs, checking in regularly to make sure they feel safe and cared for. Vanessa also participates and volunteers in on-site services, including the food pantry, where she helps stock and organize items. With the high cost of groceries, the food pantry has been a crucial resource for her family of six.

When reflecting on where she’d be without access to affordable housing, Vanessa shared that she would likely still be without stable housing, moving from place to place. Now that her housing is secure, she’s looking ahead. She hopes to move into a larger apartment to accommodate her newborn son. Long-term, she’s thinking about working toward homeownership, so she can always provide her kids with a stable place to call home. She also hopes to return to work and find a job that supports her and her children.