Ernseau Admettre, a Haitian man, made the difficult decision to leave his homeland and embark on a treacherous journey to the United States with his young family. The dire situation in Haiti, plagued by poverty and gang violence, left Admettre with little hope for a better future if they stayed put. Through the power of the internet, Admettre discovered Boston and set his sights on Massachusetts as their destination.

The Admettre family's journey was a long and perilous one, taking them through several countries including the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Mexico. They faced numerous obstacles and challenges along the way, but their determination to escape the hardships in Haiti propelled them forward.

Eventually, the Admettres arrived at Boston International Airport, right as winter was settling in. It was at this critical moment that they were lucky enough to be discovered by volunteers who were working tirelessly to fill gaps in the shelter system. Facing the prospect of being kicked out of the airport, the Admettres saw these volunteers as guardian angels sent by God. Ernseau Admettre expressed his gratitude, stating, "I don't have any family who lives in the United States. We didn't expect to receive this welcome or experience because we have no family ties here."

Currently, the Admettre family is one of eight families finding shelter at the Bethel AME Church's rectory building in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. This group of families, totaling 28 individuals, including 13 children ranging from infants to a 15-year-old, is being supported by the Immigrant Family Services Institute in Boston.

Ernseau Admettre has recently received work authorization, and he is determined to find employment to support his family and move out of the shelter into a more permanent home. With his background in business administration, computer sciences, and tailoring, Admettre is hopeful that he will be able to secure a job soon. The organization assisting them aims to bring in employers in January to help these migrants find employment and more permanent housing opportunities.

Demand for shelter in Massachusetts has been steadily increasing as the state struggles to find suitable accommodations for newly arriving migrants. Last month, the state reached its imposed limit of 7,500 families in its emergency homeless shelter system, leaving over 350 families on the waiting list. In response, the state plans to open a former courthouse in Cambridge as an overnight overflow site, providing a warm and safe place for eligible families to sleep until a shelter unit becomes available.

Scott Rice, the director general of Massachusetts Emergency Assistance, encourages community organizations to reach out and provide daytime programs and resources to families in need. In the meantime, the Admettre family and others in similar circumstances are living as a community, cooking together, and taking English and computer classes at the church's rectory. They remain determined to work hard and find their way in their new country, hoping for a brighter future for themselves and their children.