A family is without a home for the holidays after the home exploded Tuesday morning on the city's south side. 

According to officials, a stolen hot water tank could have led to the explosion and a criminal investigation is now underway.

Dispatchers got the call just after 10 a.m. Tuesday that there was an explosion at a home on the 700 block of Roxbury Avenue.

 21 News caught up with the family Wednesday afternoon. 

They were set to move into the house sometime next week.

Jose Arena's grandma has arthritis in her knees and stairs would be too much for her.

The Roxbury home would have been better for his grandmother because there were no stairs.

She was even relieved to be able to find Section 8 housing in the area she wishes to live in.

"After losing the house they were looking so forward to moving into, they now have to start at square one again," said Arena. 

He added that his grandmother would lose her Section 8 voucher if she doesn't find another house within a specific timeframe.