The Ortiz Family

Luciano and Tiffany Ortiz are no strangers to life’s challenges. They’ve known homelessness, unemployment, poverty, alcoholism, and serious health and mental health issues. They struggled to pay the rent, and staying afloat seemed impossible. “It all started,” said Tiffany, “because I have epilepsy, and we don’t have any family around that can help us.”

She stayed at home with their young son and daughter (Ezra and Eternity) while Luciano worked. However, keeping a regular job was difficult, because whenever Tiffany had a seizure, Luciano would have to rush home to care for her and their children. They fell behind on their rent a few times, and while they had some help from their church, they soon found themselves on the verge of losing their home and having to live in their car.

Fortunately, someone referred the family to us. As Luciano says, “OPCS saw our family was in need and they opened the door for us and immediately got us into this two-bedroom apartment shelter. They helped us with clothes, food, essentials, and all kinds of stuff. They’ve just been a real, real blessing in our lives. They even took us out to a hockey game, for the first time in our lives, which was pretty cool.”

“I expected the worst,” Tiffany said because you hear ‘shelter,’ but it was actually very homey and comfortable. Everybody here is very, very friendly and welcoming.” Luciano adds, “They’ve just been a real blessing in our lives. It’s been an incredible journey, and other things are starting to come together…to paint a big beautiful picture that we didn’t expect.