Some children feel delighted when their parents buy them a new toy, while others, like the boy in this story, can’t control their tears when they learn they finally have a house to live in.
A couple from Mount Dora, Florida, lived with their two sons when they became homeless. For months, the family of four struggled to find a new home and didn’t know if they would find a safe space to live in.
Mallory A Ellis and her husband Darell finally found a home in the first quarter of 2023. They brought their 8-year-old son, Evin, and his elder brother to the new house, unaware of their wholesome reaction.
Ellis filmed and posted a video of Evin’s reaction on TikTok, unaware that it would garner millions of views. In the video, her son was seen bursting into tears when she said, “This is our house.”
How Did the Little Boy React?
Standing in the front yard of his new house with his brother and father, Evin looks at his mother in disbelief as she tells him that they will move into the new home on April 10. It took him a few seconds to realize what his mother said, and when he did, he couldn’t control his emotions.
Feeling shocked, Evin covered his mouth with his hands and took a few steps away from the house. Still looking at his mother, he kept his hands on his cheeks before turning around and jumping in excitement and disbelief.Tears started to roll down the boy’s cheeks after learning he would finally live in a house. His brother hugs him before his mother asks, “Are you happy?” Still crying, Evin runs to his mother with his arms wide open and hugs her.
Darell wraps his arms around Evin’s neck and places his head on the boy’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. Meanwhile, Ellis turns the camera toward their new house, saying:
“It’s our house. We have a house.”
@malloryellis4 After months of being #houseless we are finally HOME #fyp #housingcrisis #rentalcrisis #florida #homeless #houseless #houselessness #momtok #ourstory ♬ Storytelling – Adriel
Why Was the Family Homeless for Months?
Ellis and Derek had to move out of their previous house after Derek faced a heart complication, and the doctors performed an emergency open-heart surgery on him for four bypasses. Undergoing the complicated procedure meant he had to rest for the next six months.
As a result, Ellis had to take the role of the primary breadwinner. She worked as a paraprofessional educator during the day and delivered food at night. By working two jobs, Ellis thought she could save enough money to make ends meet, but things didn’t go as planned.
The family of four was forced to leave their rented home, leaving them with no choice except to live with a family friend. Ellis and Derek, and their two kids spent the next 45 days in a bedroom and garage before moving into a hotel.The family had to see some of the worst days of their lives before they finally signed the lease for their new house. After posting Evin’s reaction video on TikTok, Ellis posted another video to thank the people for their kind comments.
She shared that some people offered help and wanted to send things to Ellis’s new home, while others posted messages of support. Ellis thanked everyone for their generosity and said that not everyone on the internet was bad. “Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” the mother of two said.