They represent the strengths of their families. Their task is extraordinary and it was largely unnoticed until recently. GrandFamilies House is the culmination of four years of research and planning. In addition to their poverty, these families also encountered many regulatory problems. Many school and health centers do not recognize grandparents as primary caretakers.
Many families are ineligible for elderly housing because they disallow children.
And if the elderly grandparent is exempt from the work requirement in welfare reform, the child is ineligible for daycare vouchers, denying the child early enrichment and the grandparent a break. Of the grandparents surveyed, all cited the difficulty raising children in isolation. They never expected to be raising another generation, and they lack the supports parents typically rely on. Most mentioned the need for affordable housing and half expressed a desire for housing specially designed for them that would offer both formal supports on-site and the opportunity for peer companionship. YWCA Boston was brought in as a collaborating partner because of their experience providing programs for families.