Traction began as a single space organized by Leslie Moore in Savin Hill, MA. It's grown to 4 properties that aim to become a network of resources for those that need them. Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, looks across the street at the house he lived in

Traction began as a single space organized by Leslie Moore in Savin Hill, MA. It's grown to 4 properties that aim to become a network of resources for those that need them. Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, looks across the street at the house he lived in before he became homeless at the age of 14 in Roslindale, MA.

Angela Driscoll, 38, sits in the living room of “The Chateau,” one of the properties owned by Leslie Moore who began Traction ten years ago by purchasing a carriage house in Savin Hill. Moore began accumulating properties to provide assistance to th

Angela Driscoll, 38, sits in the living room of “The Chateau,” one of the properties owned by Leslie Moore who began Traction ten years ago by purchasing a carriage house in Savin Hill. Moore began accumulating properties to provide assistance to those looking to get back on their feet after facing challenging situations. Driscoll became a member of a Traction household after living with her sister and her sister’s children became too difficult to manage. Driscoll says she finally has an opportunity to enjoy personal space. Although not all houses operate in the same way, Driscoll divides the income from being a home health aid into rent and suggested savings, and she hopes to soon be able to afford her own living situation.

Janelle Ruiz helps prepare a lunch for “Friends and Family” Day at her sister Leslie Moore’s home in Central Falls, RI.

Janelle Ruiz helps prepare a lunch for “Friends and Family” Day at her sister Leslie Moore’s home in Central Falls, RI.

April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon removes sheets and blankets from the dryer to prepare a bed for Jimmy, who is not a permanent resident of the Traction home but who has formed a friendship and often comes over for dinner. The homes, owned by Leslie Moo

April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon removes sheets and blankets from the dryer to prepare a bed for Jimmy, who is not a permanent resident of the Traction home but who has formed a friendship and often comes over for dinner. The homes, owned by Leslie Moore, function as a safe space and focus on relationships, faith, and self improvement. The goal, according to Leslie, is to create a network and community that can offer their resources to those in need.

April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who essentially manages the Traction home in Dorchester, MA, gives a confused look as Audrey "Drew" Felix pulls out more ingredients for the dinner they cook and share. Felix, the house’s “designated chef” cooks for th

April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who essentially manages the Traction home in Dorchester, MA, gives a confused look as Audrey "Drew" Felix pulls out more ingredients for the dinner they cook and share. Felix, the house’s “designated chef” cooks for the housemates most Saturday nights. “I’m from the West Indies, so I usually like chicken and rice but I love Italian food,” says Felix, “garlic and butter, use it in all my recipes.”

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, moves the house microwave to make more prep space for the weekly dinner at the Nightingale House.

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, moves the house microwave to make more prep space for the weekly dinner at the Nightingale House.

Harmon helps house member Felix put away groceries before preparing dinner at the Nightingale House in Dorchester, MA.

Harmon helps house member Felix put away groceries before preparing dinner at the Nightingale House in Dorchester, MA.

April 4, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who manages on of the Traction homes, listens as Audrey "Drew" Felix, 28, talks about the variety of circumstances including unstable living situations and a recent epilepsy diagnosis that prompted him to move into a Tr

April 4, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who manages on of the Traction homes, listens as Audrey "Drew" Felix, 28, talks about the variety of circumstances including unstable living situations and a recent epilepsy diagnosis that prompted him to move into a Traction house in Dorchester, Boston, MA in March of 2016. Traction is a network of homes owned by Leslie Moore that aim to provide a relationship centered approach to helping people get back on track.

April 13, 2017 - Jimmy Watler (left) arm wrestles Earle Harmon (right) over a dinner of pasta and brussel sprouts cooked by Audrey "Drew" Felix. Jimmy isn’t an actual member of the household, though he often stays the night. Traction moving forward,

April 13, 2017 - Jimmy Watler (left) arm wrestles Earle Harmon (right) over a dinner of pasta and brussel sprouts cooked by Audrey "Drew" Felix. Jimmy isn’t an actual member of the household, though he often stays the night. Traction moving forward, according to Leslie Moore the founder, is more about the creation of a resource network and the promotion of family-like ties for those that need it than a structured program.

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, sits on the bed at his home in the Nightingale house.

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, sits on the bed at his home in the Nightingale house.

Moore (right) shares a laugh with her sister Janelle Ruiz (center) and former Traction participant Kasheena Ross (left) at the the Central Falls, RI.

Moore (right) shares a laugh with her sister Janelle Ruiz (center) and former Traction participant Kasheena Ross (left) at the the Central Falls, RI.

erk-2_orig.jpg
Audrey “Drew” Felix holds photographs of his daughter Lydia in his bedroom at the Traction home in Dorchester, MA. “Primarily, I’m not trying to settle, I really do have plans,” he says. “Having money for your kids…just making sure I’m stable enou

Audrey “Drew” Felix holds photographs of his daughter Lydia in his bedroom at the Traction home in Dorchester, MA. “Primarily, I’m not trying to settle, I really do have plans,” he says. “Having money for your kids…just making sure I’m stable enough to take care of my child. I know how difficult it was for me growing up and I wouldn’t want the same for my daughter.”

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, walks along a back road in Roslindale, MA. “This was my walk, all day looking for something to do,” says Felix. He spent just under a year homeless at the age of 14 after the death of his father.

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, walks along a back road in Roslindale, MA. “This was my walk, all day looking for something to do,” says Felix. He spent just under a year homeless at the age of 14 after the death of his father.

The vacant lot next to Audrey “Drew” Felix’s previous home in Roslindale, MA, used to hold a car that Felix often slept in after his housing situation fell through when he was 14.

The vacant lot next to Audrey “Drew” Felix’s previous home in Roslindale, MA, used to hold a car that Felix often slept in after his housing situation fell through when he was 14.

Kasheena Ross (left) was a former Traction participant whom Moore described as “Traction Gold.” Here she laughs as Moore’s sister Janelle Ruiz prepares lunch in the Central Falls, RI home.

Kasheena Ross (left) was a former Traction participant whom Moore described as “Traction Gold.” Here she laughs as Moore’s sister Janelle Ruiz prepares lunch in the Central Falls, RI home.

Audrey “Drew” Felix sits in the kitchen of the Nightingale house in Dorchester, MA.

Audrey “Drew” Felix sits in the kitchen of the Nightingale house in Dorchester, MA.

Traction began as a single space organized by Leslie Moore in Savin Hill, MA. It's grown to 4 properties that aim to become a network of resources for those that need them. Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, looks across the street at the house he lived in
Angela Driscoll, 38, sits in the living room of “The Chateau,” one of the properties owned by Leslie Moore who began Traction ten years ago by purchasing a carriage house in Savin Hill. Moore began accumulating properties to provide assistance to th
Janelle Ruiz helps prepare a lunch for “Friends and Family” Day at her sister Leslie Moore’s home in Central Falls, RI.
April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon removes sheets and blankets from the dryer to prepare a bed for Jimmy, who is not a permanent resident of the Traction home but who has formed a friendship and often comes over for dinner. The homes, owned by Leslie Moo
April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who essentially manages the Traction home in Dorchester, MA, gives a confused look as Audrey "Drew" Felix pulls out more ingredients for the dinner they cook and share. Felix, the house’s “designated chef” cooks for th
Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, moves the house microwave to make more prep space for the weekly dinner at the Nightingale House.
Harmon helps house member Felix put away groceries before preparing dinner at the Nightingale House in Dorchester, MA.
April 4, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who manages on of the Traction homes, listens as Audrey "Drew" Felix, 28, talks about the variety of circumstances including unstable living situations and a recent epilepsy diagnosis that prompted him to move into a Tr
April 13, 2017 - Jimmy Watler (left) arm wrestles Earle Harmon (right) over a dinner of pasta and brussel sprouts cooked by Audrey "Drew" Felix. Jimmy isn’t an actual member of the household, though he often stays the night. Traction moving forward,
Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, sits on the bed at his home in the Nightingale house.
Moore (right) shares a laugh with her sister Janelle Ruiz (center) and former Traction participant Kasheena Ross (left) at the the Central Falls, RI.
erk-2_orig.jpg
Audrey “Drew” Felix holds photographs of his daughter Lydia in his bedroom at the Traction home in Dorchester, MA. “Primarily, I’m not trying to settle, I really do have plans,” he says. “Having money for your kids…just making sure I’m stable enou
Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, walks along a back road in Roslindale, MA. “This was my walk, all day looking for something to do,” says Felix. He spent just under a year homeless at the age of 14 after the death of his father.
The vacant lot next to Audrey “Drew” Felix’s previous home in Roslindale, MA, used to hold a car that Felix often slept in after his housing situation fell through when he was 14.
Kasheena Ross (left) was a former Traction participant whom Moore described as “Traction Gold.” Here she laughs as Moore’s sister Janelle Ruiz prepares lunch in the Central Falls, RI home.
Audrey “Drew” Felix sits in the kitchen of the Nightingale house in Dorchester, MA.

Traction began as a single space organized by Leslie Moore in Savin Hill, MA. It's grown to 4 properties that aim to become a network of resources for those that need them. Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, looks across the street at the house he lived in before he became homeless at the age of 14 in Roslindale, MA.

Angela Driscoll, 38, sits in the living room of “The Chateau,” one of the properties owned by Leslie Moore who began Traction ten years ago by purchasing a carriage house in Savin Hill. Moore began accumulating properties to provide assistance to those looking to get back on their feet after facing challenging situations. Driscoll became a member of a Traction household after living with her sister and her sister’s children became too difficult to manage. Driscoll says she finally has an opportunity to enjoy personal space. Although not all houses operate in the same way, Driscoll divides the income from being a home health aid into rent and suggested savings, and she hopes to soon be able to afford her own living situation.

Janelle Ruiz helps prepare a lunch for “Friends and Family” Day at her sister Leslie Moore’s home in Central Falls, RI.

April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon removes sheets and blankets from the dryer to prepare a bed for Jimmy, who is not a permanent resident of the Traction home but who has formed a friendship and often comes over for dinner. The homes, owned by Leslie Moore, function as a safe space and focus on relationships, faith, and self improvement. The goal, according to Leslie, is to create a network and community that can offer their resources to those in need.

April 13, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who essentially manages the Traction home in Dorchester, MA, gives a confused look as Audrey "Drew" Felix pulls out more ingredients for the dinner they cook and share. Felix, the house’s “designated chef” cooks for the housemates most Saturday nights. “I’m from the West Indies, so I usually like chicken and rice but I love Italian food,” says Felix, “garlic and butter, use it in all my recipes.”

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, moves the house microwave to make more prep space for the weekly dinner at the Nightingale House.

Harmon helps house member Felix put away groceries before preparing dinner at the Nightingale House in Dorchester, MA.

April 4, 2017 - Earle Harmon, who manages on of the Traction homes, listens as Audrey "Drew" Felix, 28, talks about the variety of circumstances including unstable living situations and a recent epilepsy diagnosis that prompted him to move into a Traction house in Dorchester, Boston, MA in March of 2016. Traction is a network of homes owned by Leslie Moore that aim to provide a relationship centered approach to helping people get back on track.

April 13, 2017 - Jimmy Watler (left) arm wrestles Earle Harmon (right) over a dinner of pasta and brussel sprouts cooked by Audrey "Drew" Felix. Jimmy isn’t an actual member of the household, though he often stays the night. Traction moving forward, according to Leslie Moore the founder, is more about the creation of a resource network and the promotion of family-like ties for those that need it than a structured program.

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, sits on the bed at his home in the Nightingale house.

Moore (right) shares a laugh with her sister Janelle Ruiz (center) and former Traction participant Kasheena Ross (left) at the the Central Falls, RI.

Audrey “Drew” Felix holds photographs of his daughter Lydia in his bedroom at the Traction home in Dorchester, MA. “Primarily, I’m not trying to settle, I really do have plans,” he says. “Having money for your kids…just making sure I’m stable enough to take care of my child. I know how difficult it was for me growing up and I wouldn’t want the same for my daughter.”

Audrey “Drew” Felix, 28, walks along a back road in Roslindale, MA. “This was my walk, all day looking for something to do,” says Felix. He spent just under a year homeless at the age of 14 after the death of his father.

The vacant lot next to Audrey “Drew” Felix’s previous home in Roslindale, MA, used to hold a car that Felix often slept in after his housing situation fell through when he was 14.

Kasheena Ross (left) was a former Traction participant whom Moore described as “Traction Gold.” Here she laughs as Moore’s sister Janelle Ruiz prepares lunch in the Central Falls, RI home.

Audrey “Drew” Felix sits in the kitchen of the Nightingale house in Dorchester, MA.

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