For the first four days, Ayden, the youngest member of the Endres family , having recently turned 13, couldn’t sleep by himself in his new room. He could only drift off in his parents’ bed. It’s his first time living in a house.
Every other night of his life, Ayden has slept in a mobile home, on a sofa behind the driver’s seat. He and his family were always alert, aware of the threats of living in the street. The noises, the police who fined them and frequently threatened to have their vehicles towed, even a hard rain could disrupt their slumber.
Ayden’s new home is an apartment that until recently, was a resort in the famous San Diego tourism zone . The 860-square-foot living space is simple, but it has everything his family needs to be comfortable: two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a small kitchen that connects to the living room. Through its windows, they can see the patio of the former tourist complex.
At its center are a swimming pool and jacuzzi that have been dismantled and filled with sand. Few luxuries are left here, in what was previously a Marriott hotel. Now, the entryway has security-enabled doors and the reception area is surrounded by bulletproof glass.
Inside is a team of guards who ensure that the residents of the 190 homes who now make up the community respect each other. Veronica is one of the guards who watch over the complex. She interrupts her rounds to head out to her car for a bag that holds some gifts for the Endreses.
“They are a lovely fam.