EPISODE ONE – Jaylene

Family Members:

Jaylene, Alexis, Kaitlynn and Garret

About:

Single mom Jaylene struggles to get ahead, working full time as an admin asst at the Town of Cochrane and spending evenings studying to improve her situation. Her children all pitch in, the girls with part time jobs and Garret delivering flyers.

EPISODE TWO – Nicole

Family Members:

Nicole, Brady and Marley

About:

Shortly after losing her home to an arsonist, Nicole found herself a single mother with two young daughters to care for.  The stress of the incident ended her marriage and Marley’s special health needs requires Nicole to provide 24 hour care on a part time salary.

EPISODE THREE – Bakyt and Jibek

Family Members:

Bakyt, Jibek, Ben and Emil

About:

New to Canada, Bakyt and Jibek made the decision to leave the political uncertainty of Krgystan to raise their children in a progressive and stable country.  Bakyt now finds himself working two jobs to pay their rent and Jibek, alone with her sons, feels the absence of her friends and family everyday.

EPISODE FOUR – John and Kim

Family Members:

John, Kim, Katelynn, Desiree and William

About:

John and Kim have three generations under one roof in a rental home they cannot afford.  After Katelynn successfully completed a drug treatment program, they find themselves paying 85% of their income to stay in a neighbourhood away from her old influences.

EPISODE FIVE – Helena

Family Members:

Helena, Katelynn and Matthew

About:

Alone in a rented acreage home, Helena worked two jobs and still could barely make ends meet.  Hoping to spend a bit more time with her kids, Helena began driving their school bus and it quickly became an essential part of her income.

EPISODE SIX – Inna and Abu

Family Members:

Inna, Abu, Kuatzhan, Brian, Jeffrey and Katerina

About:

Equal opportunities, human rights and social justice were reasons that Inna and Abu left Kazakhstan for Canada three years ago. Having spent all their savings to immigrate, they have found a welcoming family at their church but still struggle to pay the rent on Abu’s limited income.

EPISODE SEVEN – Entisar and Omar

Family Members:

Entisar, Omar, Hala, Zack, Mazen, Basil and Nasir

About:

Omar works for Canada Post and Entisar worked part time before having her youngest son Nasir. Although Entisar has a degree in Agriculture, it is not recognized in Canada however with a limited income and five children to raise, the hope of returning to school and saving for a home are dreams that will never be realized.