When the first family moved into Columbus Place, in December of 2013, Guillermo was very excited for Christmas. The 9-year-old boy who loved Lego and Star Wars already had the best present he could ask for — a home.

After a tumultuous year that included obtaining guardianship of Lili, her 3-year-old granddaughter, abruptly losing the home she was renting, and finding herself living in shelter with Lili amidst a global health pandemic, it appears the year will end positively for this resilient grandmother and granddaughter duo.

Catherine has been living at Columbus Place just shy of a year. She found herself unable to afford her rent and on her search for affordable housing, found Forward Housing.

Marcos, 70, has been enjoying his summer, spending the days with his granddaughters while their parents are at work. Each morning, he picks them up and brings them to his apartment for a fun day of adventures with their ‘Abuelo’ (Grandpa in Spanish).

If you walk into Carroll Place on any Saturday afternoon, you will find a vibrant group of women in the lounge sharing baked goods, stories and plenty of laughter. They spend the afternoon socializing while knitting a wide array of colourful masterpieces.

Blaine, a Forward Housing tenant since 2013, shares his journey of personal growth thanks to the stability he experienced since securing an affordable home. Thank you Blaine for sharing your story with us.

Kiesha Mastrodimos was only 17 when she hit a moose while driving near her home outside of Grande Prairie, Alberta, in 2013. She sustained a spinal cord injury that left her in a wheelchair.

This Mother’s Day, we’d like to share a story many mothers can relate to. Rachelle* is a single mom and Forward Housing tenant who has persevered through hardship for the sake of her daughter’s future.

Many amazing stories of tenant strength, courage, and determination live within the walls of Forward Housing’s affordable housing buildings. One such tenant, Denise, has agreed to share her remarkable story with us. The words “give up” have never been in her vocabulary.

Marilyn Shingoose, a Forward Housing tenant, is a proud First Nations Elder from Cote Band, Treaty 4. Although she never learned to speak her native language, she tells us wistfully her name in Saulteaux is Colourful Sky.