Moving from house to house and living on the street makes it nearly impossible to create strong holiday traditions.

That's the feeling of Jonette Ahwah, 42. In fact, she has lost much of her belief and faith in Christmas because of her living situation. But in June, life seemed to have an upside. She was accepted to the transitional housing at the Weinberg Village in Waimanalo.

"It's been good for the kids," Ahwah said. "We had a hard time of it for the past two or three years. The kids call this place home. We don't have to fight over toys and food." One Christmas, she used her food stamps to purchase candy that she wrapped for them as presents.

It's important to have a place to call home because her daughter needs a clean environment and a place for her medicines. She has chronic asthma and needs a nebulizer and other breathing apparatuses.

Ahwah is a single parent. She works at a Kailua fast-food restaurant, and sometimes she has to work the night shift.

"I'm just trying to wing it on my own," Ahwah said. "My friends help me keep my head straight."

Her neighbors pick up the slack with the children when she's at work, she said. Her daughter, 6, would like anything Hannah Montana and Hello Kitty, girly-girl items, and her 4-year-old son is a Batman fan.

"I'm glad for this place," Ahwah said. "It gives us time to get back on our feet."