• United by Difference in New York City

  by Dominique de Castro

  A heavy pot blew through a window in a flurry of wind and rain. Just like that, the seal was broken. Pop! Pop! Pop! The rest of the windows came crashing out of the walls at the same time. Torrents of rain flooded the living room and kitchen.

• When I Lived in a Shelter, I Still Kept My Head Held High

  by Sirsy Galarza

  Some names have been changed. In 2016, I felt like my world was collapsing. My two aunts died, and then my grandmother. This made me afraid that I’d lose my mother and twin brother, too, and be put in the foster care system.

• Losing the Most Important Connection

  by Valentina Ferreira

  I recently wrote a YCteen story about how difficult it was for me to reconnect with my mother after being separated from her for so long. We’re originally from Colombia and she came to the United States before me, when I was only 5.

• I Started My Own Charity

  by Jahin Rahman

  The burning Dhaka summer sun reflected off the rearview mirror of my parents’ Toyota as I sat in the backseat with my sister. It was a typical afternoon, 100 degrees, and I could feel the sweat on my skin. I was 5 years old.

• Living in Shelter 

  by Amya Shaw

  Before I went into the shelter system, I was confident. I wanted to try new things and I was very loud. No matter what I was saying, I had to be loud about it. “THERE’S THE ICE CREAM TRUCK! CAN WE GET ICE CREAM PLEASE?”

• Growing Up Homeless

  by Daren Braithwaite

  When I was 11 years old, my mother lost her job as a receptionist for a small carpentry company. After a few months of not being able to pay the rent, my mom, my younger sister, and I moved into a smaller apartment.