Photo by Emilio Cortez

Unapologetically Devoted 

When Noemi dreamed of becoming a grandmother, she never imagined the profound responsibilities it would bring. Today she is raising her five grandchildren—ages 15, 12, 11, and 9-year-old twins—completely on her own, having endured more loss and hardship than most families face in a lifetime. 

Noemi became the legal guardian of the children in 2018 when the twins were six months old. Her daughter was murdered, and one of the children’s fathers was killed and the other was serving a life sentence. Noemi stepped in, determined to keep the children together.  

But their grief was only the beginning. Two years later, her partner passed away—a tremendous blow to all of them as he had become the children’s father figure and helped support the family. Soon after, her mother and father died within months of each other. Each loss brought heartbreak—and deep financial instability. 

With five children to care for, finding housing in Los Angeles felt impossible. Landlords told her she needed a four- or five-bedroom apartment. Deposits were three times the rent. Even when they secured a subsidized apartment, the support only covered 12 months. When it ended, the rent was simply too high. 

Noemi and the children moved from place to place—a garage, a mobile home, motels. The stress was unbearable.  “My oldest grandchild would wake up asking what are we going to do tomorrow. Sometimes he would cry and say he was so tired to move to another hotel,” she says.  

Through it all, the children managed to stay in school, often transferring campuses when they moved but persevering with the help of supportive school staff.  

Meanwhile, Noemi was battling serious health challenges, including heart failure and lung problems. The stress of not knowing where her family would sleep took a heavy toll. 

Everything changed when she was referred to LA Family Housing and moved into The Emerald in September 2024, a permanent supportive housing community that LAFH had just opened in the Antelope Valley. For the first time in years, her family had a stable, three-bedroom apartment of their own. 

“When we walked in, the children were so happy,” Noemi recalls.  

The impact has been profound. With stability, Noemi’s health began to improve. “My doctor said to me now that you have a place, you’re going to start losing weight because you’re not going to be worried about it and stressed out,” Noemi says. He was right—she has lost nearly 80 pounds since she moved into The Emerald. 

The children are thriving too. They finally feel safe, and play with other children inside the gates of the apartments.  They are also more focused on school and enjoy being home. “We all clean together. We cook together. Now that we have our own place, they are so happy,” Noemi says.  

Beyond housing, the on-site support at The Emerald has made a difference—from help with basic needs to a caring team that checks in, listens, and responds. 

After years of instability, loss, and uncertainty, Noemi finally feels secure. 

“I know we’re okay here,” she says. “We’re home.”