KISSIMMEE, Fla. — One homeless family in Kissimmee is homeless no more. 

For a long time, Rosa Hernandez and her children — Dylan, who is 5 years old, and Aren, 8 years old — lived at the Star Motel, a motel in deteriorating conditions. Once the COVID-19 pandemic dragged down the economy as well as made people sick, the situation got even worse for them.

What You Need To Know

  • Rosa Hernandez, children had been living in motels

  • Embrace of Celebration helped her family get an apartment

  • Local interior designer helped furnish new place

Hernandez said she feels grateful that with the help of Embrace of Celebration she was able to get her own little place at Backlot Apartments. 

Local interior designer Tammy Lavarro helped fully furnish the unit.

“I just wanted them to have a fresh start in life,” Lavarro said. “I wanted everything to be new, brand new, and belong to them. So if they need to leave at some point and go to another place, this is theirs. They can take it with them.” 

Hernandez is excited about this new beginning but ultimately wants to get her own house.

“You just have to have faith and move forward and do exactly what we need to do,” Hernandez said. “And expect just new beginning.” 

For those who would like to pitch in and assist Hernandez through this transition, a GoFundMe account has been established.