More than Four Walls: Our First Clients, One Year Later
One year ago, the Aguirre family became the very first household to move into permanent housing through Encompass Housing. Their journey from homelessness to stability was not just a turning point for them—it marked the beginning of our mission in action.
As part of our Help Them Home campaign, we're showcasing how home is more than four walls. It’s support. It’s safety. It’s dignity. It’s stability. And the Aguirre family is living proof of what that truly means.
“Our kids can finally experience the feeling of knowing where they would sleep every night in their own beds. We are forever grateful to Encompass and our housing navigator.”
– Dela Marie Aguirre
A Year Ago: Living in Crisis
In March 2023, Dela Marie and her husband found themselves facing unimaginable hardship. With three young children—ages 4, 1, and a newborn—they were forced to live in their car, on friends’ couches, and on living room floors. The constant uncertainty led to depression, anxiety, and a deep sense of hopelessness.
“We never thought it could happen to us. But it did. We were homeless with our three babies, and every day was a struggle.”
That changed when they were connected to Encompass Housing and met Brian, their Housing Navigator. Within a month, Brian and the team helped the Aguirres secure a two-bedroom apartment—a safe place to land and begin again.
To make that space feel like home, our incredible partners at Furnishing Hope stepped in and fully furnished the apartment with beds, tables, sofas, and essential supplies—turning an empty unit into a space filled with love and possibility. →Watch Furnishing Hope in action.
Today: A Home Full of Hope
One year later, the Aguirre family is thriving—and they’re an example of what happens when you help someone home.
Dela Marie is employed full-time and picking up extra hours.
Her husband is working full time in carpentry.
Their household income has increased, and they are independently sustaining their rent.
Their children are healthy, enrolled in school, and receiving childcare.
The family is stable and no longer in need of therapy.
Most importantly, they have reclaimed their dignity, their peace, and their future.
”Encompass and Brian made us feel like there was hope again. They didn’t just help us find a place to live—they helped us heal.”
– Dela Marie
The Aguirre family’s journey reminds us why we do this work. Home is not just a roof overhead—it’s the support to rebuild, the safety to grow, the dignity to heal, and the stability to thrive.
With your continued support, we can help more families home.