HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — After fleeing their home country of Afghanistan and spending months living in a hotel to seek asylum in the U.S., Enayatullah and his family finally moved in to their very own apartment.

“I’m feeling better. The after is very better because here is very good place. I like here because my life here is safe. My wife, my kids here safe,” he said.

What You Need To Know

  • Enayatullah, his pregnant wife and two children spent about three months living in a single hotel room

  • The family recently found housing with the help of the Tiyya Foundation and other organizations

  • The Tiyya Foundation has helped house 10 refugee families

  • Shukry Cattan says some families are living at shelters and have fallen into homelessness

His kids especially love the park nearby. Since moving in, Enayatullah and his pregnant wife haven’t taken time for granted. They’ve both been working on their English and Enayatullah has taken on a second job to save up for expenses and, hopefully, a car.

“It feels good to be working and God willing, I will keep working. My goal is to buy a house. That’s why I am working so hard now to one day afford a house and have a comfortable life,” he said.

Spectrum News first shared Enayatullah’s story back in April when the family had been staying at an Anaheim hotel. Since then, the Tiyya Foundation, the nonprofit helping Enayatullah’s family resettle, saw the community’s outpouring of support for the family.

Shukry Cattan, the director of operations with the foundation, said some families have already fallen into homelessness. That’s why they are building out a housing program to help other refugees. So far, Cattan said the organization has helped house more than 10 families. The goal now is to help them find and maintain a stable income.

“Ensuring that at least someone in the household has a good job with good pay that can secure their financials to cover their expenses of rent, utilities which is one of the biggest stresses since life in Southern California is very expensive,” Cattan said.

While Enayatullah’s life in the U.S. is just getting started, he already has his sights set on a few goals of improving his English, going back to school and creating a better life for his family.

“We are comfortable, our mood is relaxed. Now I’m focused on doing better today rather than waiting for tomorrow,” he said. “And I wish that tomorrow will eventually be better than today. I have a good feeling about this.”

Enayatullah’s journey is filled with hopes and dreams for the future. With enough willpower and determination, it could one day become reality.