Hear Their Stories
Meet Lis
Meet Kyle
“When I came back to my mom’s house, she had already packed all my belongings and placed them on the front porch.”
Meet Tieyenna
“In the past ten years I have grown mentally from the emotionally unavailable and detached adolescent that I was into a woman with purpose, hope, and many more dreams.”
Meet Alesia
“I turned to my sister and I said, ‘I’m going to run…’ I eyed a staircase and took off running, moving quickly down the stairs and out of the airport exit with only $20 in my pocket.”
Meet Randall
“I didn’t buy into the program immediately. Why would I trust people I didn’t know when everyone who was supposed to be there and take care of me left?”
Meet Tatiyana
“‘I’m sorry I have to do this,’ she began. I already knew what she was about to say. She looked me in my eyes: ’I can’t afford for you to stay here any longer.’ I could see that it broke her heart to kick me out, but I understood that she had no choice.”
Meet Martha
“I shove essentials, like my homework, sheet music, and phone, into my book bag, deciding I have endured the abuse too long. When I glimpse my father’s scrubs reappear…I run.”
Meet Jarian
“They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well it took a village-and-a-half to raise me.”
Meet Olivia
“While I am living on the street, I figure everything I endure is at least my choice. I have more autonomy. At home, I am being traumatized with no control.”
Meet Jadejha
“In 5th grade, I envy other kids’ chores…born into my mother’s gang life, I’m selling drugs so we can eat.”
Meet Aja
“I continue to be trapped by my father’s choices – constantly changing houses, constantly being evicted, broken promises, bad decisions.”
Meet Hillary
“My life changed because for the first time ever someone believed in me before I even knew how to believe in myself. Over time I realized maybe, just maybe, I was meant for more.”
Meet Shaq
“I witnessed everything from robberies to shootouts. I even engaged in some of these activities myself.”
Meet Raphael
“I repeatedly choked on syllables as I confessed my struggles: blistered feet from walking miles in excruciating heat to school, exhaustion from working long hours to pay rent, and bearing the recent separation of my family.”
Meet Khalisa
“With only my backpack that held my toothbrush, my toothpaste, a pair of jeans and my work clothes, and a bar of soap, I left and I became homeless.”
Together, we can make a difference in their lives.
Ready to make a difference? Take action today and get involved with Starting Right Now, an organization dedicated to ending homelessness one child at a time. Together, we can create lasting change in the lives of our youth. Sign up for the latest news, stories and how we’re ending homelessness one child at a time.
