Owen lives with both of his parents, a brother, and a sister. The family lives well below the poverty line, struggling to have access to basic necessities, often including food. The family frequently goes without meals such as lunch, and the children go hungry for the majority of the day.

Owen's mother is a housewife and does her best to support her children and take care of their home. Their father is a compound cleaner at a nearby school. This job provides a very small salary, but he does his best to afford basic home needs and pay their rent each month.

Owen goes to a private school, but he is sent home frequently due to unpaid school feels and requirements. This inconsistency makes it very difficult for Owen to give his full attention to his studies. If Owen is going to succeed in getting his basic education, his family is going to need some assistance.