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I left my mother's house when I was 18. I had just had my first daughter and it was too much for me. I was so worried about taking care of my daughter and, at the same time, my dad was in the house and getting abusive. I just had to leave. I went to stay at my friends’ and family members’ houses until it got to the point that I didn’t have anywhere to go. I had to call my sister to come get my daughter. And, you know, that’s when I was all alone for the first time.
I didn’t have any money, I was hungry, I had nobody to call. One day, I was at the metro station and I saw this girl charging her phone and I walked over to her. She didn’t look homeless, so I asked her, “Do you have change you can spare?” She gave me two bucks and she told me that I needed to walk up the street to My Friend’s Place and they would help me with food, clothes, showers and other resources.
When I walked through the front door of My Friend's Place, I honestly didn’t feel homeless anymore. I felt like I was going to be able to get the help that I needed. It was so much pressure that just released from my shoulders. My Friend’s Place helped me with food, and asked if I needed a shower. They asked where I was at in my life, and if I needed shelter. I was excited to get to My Friend’s Place everyday. When I woke up, I would be excited because I knew there were people at My Friend’s Place that were nice to me, people that I could be nice with, and we could share things.
A few years ago, a staff member at My Friend’s Place knew someone from USC asking for youth looking for work. She asked me if I wanted to work and I said “Hell yeah!” and I’ve been working with them ever since. I’m now one of the lead data collectors with the Homeless Count. I just want to help. I want to help the next person that may have experienced what I have. I’m in housing now. I’ve been housed for a year and six months. When I received my voucher, I wanted to celebrate every day. And then, when I got my apartment, I was like, Wow, I’m really living now.
Before I got to My Friend’s Place, I had experienced homelessness for six years. Now I have a roof over my head and that’s still exciting for me. I have responsibilities, huge responsibilities now, but I’d rather deal with those responsibilities than be homeless.
Without My Friend’s Place, I could be dead, or sick, or missing. So, when I think of My Friend’s Place, it’s nothing but tears that just come pouring out because I’m so thankful. I’ve fought hard to do better. Now, I want people to see me as healed. I want people to see me as a strong person, a motivating person and their peer. I want to be a success story. I’m pretty sure everybody wants to be that success story. I think I’m entitled to a success story too.