The Stories
A Loving Family
Shawn, Laura, Anthony and Shawn Michael
Shawn and Laura want what they once had: a safe home with room for their growing sons, Anthony and Shawn Michael. After a family crisis left them homeless, they spent three grueling months living in a tent. Their temporary home is now a cramped motel room, where this loving young family is struggling to overcome a desperate financial situation and find permanent housing. Read more »
Honors Student and Athlete
Shameyah
Shameyah recently graduated from high school with a 3.8 GPA and plans to attend college. She loves playing sports, works at the mall and someday wants to start her own business. But life for this promising young woman has been less than ideal. Shameyah's family structure collapsed during her junior year, forcing her to rely on friends for temporary shelter. Read more »
Full-time Student
Jerrick
Jerrick's life was turned upside down at age 17 when the beloved aunt who raised him was tragically killed in a car accident. Without a guardian or a place to call home, he was forced to stay with family members who provided little stability. When living conditions became increasingly dangerous, he slept in his car until his teachers reached out to help him. Read more »
Mother and Daughter
Kathleen and Paige
Kathleen is scared because she can't find an affordable place to live. She tries to reassure her daughter, Paige, that everything will be okay and that they will soon find permanent housing. But Paige, a normally cheerful six-year-old, often hears the stressful tone in her mother's voice and consequently worries about problems typically reserved for adults. Read more »
U.S. Army Veteran
Jeff
Jeff believes that people who serve our country deserve better than life on the streets. After twice serving in the Army, Jeff faced the fight of his life, living in a van for four years while battling mental illness and drug addiction. Fortunately, he received treatment and found permanent housing. Now, he’s helping other homeless veterans to do the same. Read more »
Construction Worker
John
John was a hopeless alcoholic, splitting his time between a park bench and prison for more than 25 years. After repeated arrests, he knew he had to change his ways or spend the rest of his life incarcerated. A judge reluctantly granted his plea for treatment, and John made a shocking recovery. Now, this former addict lives the full, clean life he never thought possible. Read more »
Accounting Professional
Susan
Susan depleted her life's savings in three months after she was diagnosed with a chronic illness and no longer able to work. Her secure existence shattered, this accounting professional and single mom of two was forced from her home. Susan took only what she needed to survive and sought refuge in her car, where she lived for the next year. Read more »
Technical Engineer
Karl
Karl thought he had it all: a wife and two kids, a nice house in the suburbs and a career in technology. But life changed when he lost his job and his marriage failed. He began abusing alcohol and no longer has a home. After surviving a vicious attack while living in a motel, Karl now seeks to recover from his addiction and piece his life back together. Read more »
Minister and Mom
Tracey
Tracey and her two daughters fled a life of domestic violence with $200 and a carload of belongings. Seeking the safety of anonymity, Tracey chose to make a fresh start in Tampa. But life in a new town wasn’t what she had hoped for. With no network or support, this family of three endured a new kind of hardship, sleeping in their car when they had nowhere else to go. Read more »
Mother and Son
Shamia
Shamia has been homeless most of her life, bounced around from place to place while her mother was incarcerated. She often traded safety and security for a series of abusive relationships just to have a roof over her head. Now a college student, this aspiring young woman is receiving the training she needs to give her son, Derrick, the childhood home she never had. Read more »
Caregiver
Karen Kay
Karen Kay enjoyed careers in the Air Force and the healthcare industry before moving to Florida to care for her sick mother. But life for Karen Kay spiraled out of control when she began drinking heavily, and this mother of two suffered from chronic homelessness. After receiving treatment for mental illness and addiction, she now helps others on the road to recovery. Read more »
The Homeless Coalition gratefully acknowledges the support of all those without whom this project would not have been possible, including its member agencies and, especially the individuals and families who shared their stories with us.
