Once Homeless, Dudley Greenville Resident Gets a New "Lease" on Life

Publish Date: 
Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Earlier this month, dressed in a bright purple outfit to complement her bright smile, Monica Lewis met with us to share her journey from homelessness to a new three-bedroom home in the Dudley Greenville Apartments, an $18 million mixed-use development near the intersection of Dudley and Greenville Streets in Roxbury, and the most recent addition to our housing portfolio.

 
Monica, a single parent of five children, was one of the first tenants to move into Dudley Greenville over the summer.  Born and raised in Boston, she spent many years working as a registered nurse until she was diagnosed with a mental disorder.  The stress of living with a mental illness while trying to raise a family on her own eventually took its toll.    
 
"The opportunity to live in Dudley Greenville Apartments has been a saving grace," Lewis said.  "It has built up my self-esteem and opened my heart to want to get more involved in my community again."
 
Today Monica feels optimistic.  Her oldest son has started his second year at Ithaca College in New York. Her 12 year old daughter is a curious 7th grader whose favorite part of the school day is coming home.
 
Monica is a testament to why home matters. 
 
We wish her all the best!