Story time is the best time for Kaela Amador and her son Liam and for about a year, they've been able to do it in the comfort of their own home in Canastota.

"I can't even describe the feeling,” said Amador. “For the last 4 years, I've been jumping from place to place, living on the streets, and didn't have a place to call mine."

During that time, Amador was trapped behind bars, but also, by an opioid addiction.

"It got harder when I had another person to take care of,” said Amador.

Liam was born in February 2018, and they still didn't have a home, until two local organizations stepped in to help.

The Central New York Community Foundation started a county rural poverty fund to help those struggling. They say 11-percent of the people in Madison County lived below the poverty line in 2017.

"Poverty is a real issue and in Madison County there is no homeless shelter,” said Robyn Smith, the CNY Community Foundation Strategic Initiatives director. So being able to provide support to families such as this, it helps families get the support they need."

The foundation provided a grant to Community Action Partnership of Madison County to aid its housing program for homeless individuals.

"Our program helped around 250 individuals last year,” said Antara Mitra, the Community Action Partnership of Madison County executive director. “Case management is a big part of what we do. That's what helps a family gets back on its feet."

Because of this program, Amador says she's standing taller than ever, and she's thankful for the support.

"They help me here until I can fully take care of everything myself; get that degree I want to get,” said Amador.

"I want to make sure my children have the life they deserve,” said Amador. “That they don't have to struggle. That they don't have to go through what I went through."

Amador wants to get a degree in behavioral science and help those struggling with addiction.