My family and I were homeless for a year before the pandemic hit. The reason we were homeless was because something awful happened within our family. The stress was unbelievable.

We had three special-needs kids, and I was the only one able to provide for my family. Trying to keep everything going everyday was mechanical. Living in hotels was expensive and no money could be saved to get into a new place. We ended up living in our van so we could save money.

When we finally got into our apartment, there was a feeling of elation that quickly became deflation.

This last year of Trump, isolation, losing friends to Covid-19, being afraid of Covid-19 taking my family, and the crazy political unrest everywhere is now finally beginning to transform into something good.

And it feels just like when my family got our place.

I am mentally and emotionally exhausted.