In honour of Father’s Day, we are featuring the inspiring story of an incredibly resilient tenant: Horacio. Originally from Nicaragua, he arrived alone in Canada with the dream of creating a better life for his family. After initially struggling to integrate, he found a stable home at EHM and—with ongoing assistance from our Tenant Support Worker, Nigel—has finally been reunited with his family in Toronto after three years apart.
“Having EHM and my family in my corner, I know that I have the support needed to work through anything and reach my goals.”
After getting laid off at the beginning of the pandemic, the bills began piling up for Horacio. So Nigel stepped up in a big way, helping him to apply for financial assistance and updating his resume for several new opportunities. And the job hunt is going well! After expanding his skills through a certificate program in Data Science, Horacio has had several promising interviews for positions related to his research in Artificial Intelligence.
Coming to Toronto with no contacts whatsoever, Horacio is deeply thankful for EHM’s programs and services. Nigel is still an active member of Horacio’s network, helping his family to enroll in schools, find daycare options, and complete paperwork for Canadian immigration. If any new complications arise, Horacio knows that he can always contact Nigel, who refers him to relevant resources all over the city.
The adjustment process for Horacio’s family has been gradual, as there are many unfamiliar aspects of Canada for newcomers. But his wife, Amanda, has risen to the challenge, getting to know the neighbourhood while gaining English skills alongside her beautiful four-year old boy and newborn. The location of EHM has been amazing for their family—within walking distance of everything they need to successfully adapt to their new life in Toronto.
“I love the job EHM is doing as an organization. When you get together with the community, you know that you’re not alone.”
This story demonstrates the importance of the close relationships between Support Workers and tenants at EHM, which are essential for ensuring stability at particularly vulnerable moments. Horacio has also shown that the perseverance of a father—full of love for his wife and children—can make incredible things happen, overcoming steep barriers to establish a brighter future for his family.
Remember: you can always find good company at EHM. To continue breaking through isolation, EHM has recently launched several new programs: coffee hour, arts group, and one-off events playing board games. These services are more than just social gatherings—they’re great opportunities to begin connecting with our community in a way that leads to support, mentorship, and guidance for anyone in need!