LYNN — For Rachelle and Dave Flaherty, home has always been more than just a place to live — it’s a foundation for family, community, and resilience.
Rachelle has spent nearly her entire life in the same house in Lynn, moving into Logan Street with her parents when she was five years old.
Now, decades later, she and her husband, Dave, continue that legacy, not only as homeowners but as foster parents, providing love and stability to children in need.
“I moved into this house 40 years ago,” Rachelle said. “My parents used to live in Malden, but they wanted a more affordable place, so they settled here. I grew up here, and I’ve seen the city change a lot over the years.”
The Flahertys have seen both the positive and negative shifts in their neighborhood — more restaurants and more development, but also increased traffic and a city that sometimes feels overcrowded. “It used to be quieter,” Dave added. “You knew your neighbors, there weren’t cars flying down the street, and things just felt a little more settled.”
Their journey in this home has been shaped by deep personal loss and a commitment to family. When Rachelle’s father passed away in 2008, she remained to help her mother manage the house. Then, just months later, her brother passed away from a rare variant of mad cow disease, after years of battling PTSD and addiction.
“It was devastating,” Rachelle said. “He and my dad shared a room in a nursing home near the end. Losing them both so close together was really hard.”
After her mother became ill, Rachelle stayed on as her caregiver, eventually inheriting the home after her passing. “I never planned to be here this long, but life had different plans,” she reflected.
Through all of life’s challenges, Rachelle and Dave found each other. They met through mutual friends, though Rachelle jokes that he wasn’t initially “her type.” “But he was persistent,” she laughed. “And here we are, celebrating 11 years of marriage this October.”
Dave, a longtime contractor with a love for classic cars and motorcycles, grew up in Tewksbury in a single-parent household with five siblings and his cousin. His mother, who often took in boarders to help with rent, taught him the importance of opening one’s home to others. “We always had people in and out of our house,” he said. “It was just part of life.”
That upbringing made fostering a natural fit for the Flahertys. Their journey into foster care started unexpectedly when Rachelle received a call during COVID-19 about a struggling family member.
“A DCF worker called and said, ‘Would you be a support to her?’” she recalled. “We went to meet her, but it was clear that support wasn’t enough — this child needed a home. That night, we brought him home, and that’s how we started fostering.”
Since then, they’ve welcomed children of all ages, from teenagers to newborns. “We had triplets once,” Dave noted. “And we’ve had teenagers, babies — every situation is different.”
Fostering has been rewarding, but not without challenges. “There are a lot of misconceptions,” Dave said. “People think foster parents do it for the money, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. What we get barely covers expenses. We do this because these kids need a safe, loving home.”
The system, they say, is deeply flawed. “It’s not always about what’s best for the child,” Rachelle said. “Decisions happen fast, reunifications aren’t always planned well, and sometimes kids go back to unstable situations. It can be frustrating.”
Despite the difficulties, the Flahertys believe in the power of fostering. “People ask, ‘How can you love a child and then give them back?’” Rachelle said. “But that’s the point. If we didn’t get attached, we wouldn’t be doing our job. We’re here to give them love and stability for however long they need it.”
The couple leans on their faith and each other to navigate the emotional demands. “We divide responsibilities, we support each other, and we keep communicating,” Dave said. “If either of us ever feels like we’re at our limit, we talk about it.”
Rachelle also highlights the importance of community support. “There aren’t enough foster homes, and there aren’t enough resources for kids, especially those with behavioral challenges,” she said. “More programs, more parental support — those are things that could make a real difference.”
As they continue their journey, the Flahertys remain dedicated to providing a loving home, whether for a few months or a lifetime. “Even if we can only give these kids love and security for a short time, that time matters,” Dave said. “It changes their lives. And honestly, it changes ours too.”
