Every spring, they would plant tomatoes and squash in the backyard garden, along with milkweed to attract monarch butterflies. The first summer Nate moved in, his grandfather showed him how to use a lawn mower, instilling in him a strong work ethic. Before long, Nate was making extra cash mowing lawns in the neighborhood.

Prior to moving in with his grandfather, Nate says, life was grim — full of dark fragments that he’d just as soon forget.

“I remember a lot of missing furniture and appliances. One day, we’d have a toaster or a TV, and the next day it’d be gone,” he said. “I even remember coming home from school one afternoon, and my bed was gone. I had to sleep on the floor.”

When his grandfather got sick, Nate feared he’d have to return to this life. He had no other family to live with—no aunts, uncles, or cousins. And he wasn’t sure where his father was. Fortunately, his grandfather made a good enough recovery to return home. His mobility, however, was limited, which meant he could no longer do the small handyman jobs he did to stay afloat.

Nate was happy that his grandfather was home and that he could continue living with him. But his grandfather had trouble keeping up with the bills. The cupboards and refrigerator grew bare. Small repairs remained unfixed, and, once or twice, the electricity was cut off.