V. Pernot Photography

LaTanya Thomas, 49, sitting on the steps of the Detroit Day House, praying to find another place more permanent to stay. Her house burned down and she lost nearly everything. 

Father Tom of Detroit Day House, sets the table for a dinner he prepared for the residents of the house. 

Residents of Detroit Day House eat burgers made by Father Tom. 

LaTanya Thomas, sitting on the steps of the Detroit Day House, waiting for her fiancé to stop by from the men only shelter down the street. 

Two days later, LaTanya moved into her new home in Mexican Town.

LaTanya's unloads a suitcase full of possessions and memories that was saved from the fire.

A bedroom in LaTanya's new house. 

LaTanya planning what each room will be in her new house.

LaTanya gets excited to start lining up her shoes in her new closet. 

A mother holding an earn with her only son inside. He was about to graduate from high school when he was murdered two years ago in Detroit.

LaTanya proudly standing on the porch of her new house feeling confident about a new start to her life and an end to her time being homeless. 

A man hits on LaTanya while she is shopping for food at a Detroit food bank. 

Capuchin Kitchen in Detroit lets people shop at their food bank once a month by appointment only. 

LaTanya fills up her shopping cart with as much food that can fit since she cannot come back to shop for another month.

Father Tom of Detroit Day house drops off a washer and a dryer at LaTanya's house that were donations to the women's shelter she used to stay at.

LaTanya's grandson, A.J., visits her new house for the first time.

A.J.'s father was killed a few years after he was born.

A.J.  asks his grandmother questions about his father.

LaTanya has to deal with paperwork from the fire at her house. 

LaTanya sits on her walker while she waits in line at the State of Michigan Department of Human Services. She is not able to work because she is disabled from a car accident a few years ago. 

LaTanya holding the paperwork about the fire at her house.

LaTanya does not want her grandson's shoes to get wet so she lifts him up on her walker. 

LaTanya's home slowly coming together.

Father Tom visits LaTanya's new house to bless it.

LaTanya prays as her and her new house is blessed with holy water.

Latanya exploring her her new neighborhood, Mexican Town. 

Latanya waits for her appointment to start at a donation center in Detroit that allows people to come one time and take nearly anything they want to help them get back on their feet. 

A pile of different coffee makers and appliances at the donation center. 

Nearly done with her appointment, LaTanya is full of bliss and excitement as she picks out new things to make her house feel like home. 

LaTanya's fiancé helps her up the stairs of their house. 

LaTanya finally starting to feel at home as she sets up the space.

After a long day of errands, LaTanya's back and legs as in pain so she collapses on the couch for a nap. 

LaTanya at Capuchin Kitchen trying to make an appointment to pick food up. She wears a shirt with a photo of her and her son.  

Although she cannot pick up groceries, LaTanya finds two chairs donated to the Capuchin Kitchen.

LaTanya constantly feels grateful that she has a space of her own after being homeless for over 2 months. 

LaTanya hangs up her new curtains in her living room.

Even a small action such as hanging up new curtains fills LaTanya with joy.

LaTanya and her fiancé on their porch hopeful about their new life together.