Just months ago, the Southern California mother was grieving the loss of her grandmother when she became homeless with her daughter. With nowhere else to go, Kioka and her young daughter, Paris, found themselves living out of their car, trying to survive day by day while holding onto hope. It was the kind of situation that happens quietly to too many families, especially when grief and financial strain collide.
That all changed when Holliday’s Helping Hands stepped in.
What Kioka thought would be a simple walkthrough turned into a life-changing moment. She walked into what she believed was an empty apartment, maybe freshly painted, maybe not. Instead, she was met with a fully furnished home with a stocked refrigerator, brand-new stove, and a Christmas tree glowing in the corner with gifts waiting under it.
Katina Holliday, founder of Holliday’s Helping Hands, shared that the goal was to restore dignity, not just provide shelter. She wanted Kioka to walk into something that felt like home from the very first step. Not a temporary fix, but a reset. A reminder that someone saw her struggle and believed she deserved better.
And Paris, her daughter, was at the center of it all. A child who had experienced instability far too early in life now had a bedroom, a safe place to sleep, and a Christmas morning waiting for her. According to Holliday, both mother and daughter were more than deserving of the moment.
But the support didn’t stop at housing.
Kioka is now enrolled in Holliday’s Helping Hands’ Certified Nursing Assistant program, setting her on a path toward long-term stability. Once she passes her state exam, she plans to begin working in healthcare, building a future that looks nothing like the weeks she spent sleeping in a car.
Holliday’s Helping Hands has been quietly doing this work since 2018. What started as one house in South Los Angeles with a small staff has grown into a network of eight facilities serving hundreds of individuals and families across Los Angeles County. Pregnant women, mothers, children, and families experiencing homelessness now have access to shelter, education, and support through the organization.
Kioka’s story is about more than an apartment. It’s about community. About what happens when someone steps in at the right moment and refuses to let another family fall through the cracks.
This holiday season, one mother and daughter aren’t just surviving anymore. They’re home.
