TRIPLE Your Investment In Support For Homeless Youth This December!

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.

—Lexi, My Friend’s Place Alumna

Please join us in ensuring that every young person like Lexi who comes to My Friend’s Place can become their own success story! Thanks to the support of the My Friend’s Place Board of Directors and generous community leaders, your gift will be TRIPLED this December, up to $250,000! Click here to make your gift of support today.

Together We Can!

Assist and inspire homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives.