Family Night At USV - Fun & Ice Cream!

In a world where systems are unraveling and communities are often left to fend for themselves, BOSS remains committed to what has sustained us for over 50 years—people, connection, and dignity.

At one of our housing programs, the Ursula Shelter Village (USV), community doesn’t end when the paperwork is complete or the services are administered. It lives on in small but meaningful traditions. One of those traditions is Family Night, a monthly celebration of unity, resilience, and joy.

What started as a small gathering has now become a cornerstone of life at USV. Once a month, families come together for pizza, balloons, raffles, and birthday celebrations. There’s cake, laughter, and moments of joy.

We spoke with the team leading this effort, many of whom are frontline staff who keep this village running with consistency and compassion. They show up with purpose and love, often behind the scenes, making spaces like Family Night possible.

A Night of Joy, Led with Intention

At the most recent Family Night, we celebrated children who finished the school year strong. One little girl, now entering the second grade, was asked by her teacher what her favorite lesson was. She smiled widely and said:

My teacher told me that if I learn something new every day, I’ll grow my brain cells.

A seven-year-old boy added:

I love math because I can help my mother with her budget.

These are the sweet moments of the brilliance of children who, despite housing instability and systemic barriers, still hold hope.

The staff brings intention to every detail, ensuring each child is celebrated, each parent is heard, and each language is respected. With a growing number of Spanish-speaking families, a team member now offers live translation. No one is left out of the conversation.

During these gatherings, families discuss their concerns, express gratitude, and share their thoughts and feelings. Recently, the conversation shifted to the threats posed by immigration enforcement.

Families gathered in solidarity with undocumented members of the community. BOSS staff distributed red “Know Your Rights” cards and discussed strategies for staying safe.

These meetings are fun and proactive. They offer a space to learn, connect, and heal. They are a reflection of our larger mission: to fight systemic injustice while building spaces where people feel safe, heard, and empowered.

Who Makes This Possible?

The frontline team at USV isn’t simply “doing their jobs”—they are building ecosystems of care. Their titles may read Case Manager, Resident Support Advocate, or Program Coordinator, but what they do is steward dignity.

They coordinate services, resolve crises, offer translation, mediate concerns, organize celebrations, and hold space for stories that don’t make headlines but matter deeply.

In light of the current global situation, rising rent, aggressive policing, and political hostility, these staff members are doing remarkable work.

Your Donation Makes This Possible!

If you’ve followed BOSS for a long time, this story may sound familiar. Because at the heart of our mission is the belief that people deserve to be treated as a whole. That gatherings around pizza and balloons are just as essential as case management and housing navigation.

If you’re new here, know this: your donation doesn’t go to a line item. It goes to moments like this. To the second grader learning about brain cells. To the young boy budgeting with his mom. To the families who gathered in support of their undocumented neighbors.

To staff who don’t clock out when the workday ends, because their work is rooted in something more profound than policy, it’s rooted in people.

We invite you to invest in that. Family Night is a reflection of what’s possible when care is centered and when community leads.