1. About Homelessness
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  4. Youth

Youth

All of my accomplishments have given me the confidence to go back to school
Katie
A young girl's triumph over a painful childhood… Katie's childhood brings back distressing memories of difficult times; a home environment that was strained and stressful. Her relationship with her...
Fostering Truth: Uncovering life experiences
Breaking the link between foster care and youth Homelessness
Leaving the Shelter Doubled My GPA
Marlo Scott
Marlo was homeless several times as a child, with his family. When he becomes homeless again at 18, his concentration and his grades slip. Fortunately, he finds a home
On the Hollywood Streets
Precious hates her father's girlfriend and runs away to Hollywood, where she lives for several months in a youth shelter. She sees the other kids succumb to drugs and prostitution and leaves the...
Shelter Life: Loud and Foul
Otis Hampton
Otis is shocked by the reality of the adult shelter system—constant smoking, drugs, alcohol, fighting, no privacy, and little possibility of sleep.
Sliding Into Homelessness
Zakkiaya Bowen
Zakkiaya applies for several types of public housing before she turns 21, but nothing comes through in time. When she ages out, she is placed in her mother's house, and soon she's sleeping on the...
Supportive Housing
Lavell Pride
Lavell shares her experience of applying for, then choosing between low-income public housing and supportive housing for mentally ill New Yorkers.
Elle's story
Elle
Elle ran away at age 14 and was almost forced into prostitution by a drug dealer. Read about how she was given a second chance by homeless people who came to her aid.
Mentally Ill, Gay, and Homeless
Yaselin Serenity Solis
Yaselin finds herself caught in a gap between the foster care system and the mental health system and becomes homeless at age 18. She gets help from an LGBTQ shelter the Ali Forney Center.
Amy
Amy is only 22, and she is homeless. I met Amy in Kelowna, British Columbia, right outside a homeless feeding. If it wasn't for the location, and seeing her eating at a table with other homeless...