“I Would Walk Through the School Hallways With My Head Down”: Lika’s Story

High school student Lika (right) told teacher Lynette Finau what it's like to attend school while living in a shelter in a StoryCorps "Finding Our Way" conversation. Image credit: StoryCorps

As the weather cools and children start heading back to school, my mind turns to the students who don't have homes in which to do their homework. In a moving StoryCorps conversation, one teenage student talks about what it's like to attend school while living in a shelter.

No Family to Turn to: After Foster Care, Many Youth Face Homelessness

AmeriCorps members, YMCA staff, and participants in the YMCA Member Ambassador Committee pose for a mid-hike photo at Washington Park Arboretum. Pictured left to right: Marja Morgan, Katie Swanson, Parisa Ghebleh, Kevin Hale, Rosie Cullen, Peter Benson, and Samuel Seguido. Photo courtesy Marja Morgan.

Marja Morgan helps young people who have aged out of foster care get assistance with their housing, employment, and education needs. We invited Marja to write about her work with the YMCA of Greater Seattle's Independent Living Program, as well as the reasons that people who were once in foster care are at greater risk of experiencing homelessness. Marja also writes about a chance encounter with a globetrotting woman who prompted her to reflect on her own vulnerability to homelessness.

“We Had to Tell Her About Santa”: Homeless Parents Face Impossible Choices

From left, Lawrence, Zoe and Andrea Charles spent years without a stable home. In a recent StoryCorps interview, Lawrence said of his daughter, "She's just starting to realize we're poor." Photo credit: Dan Lamont for Firesteel.

In a new story produced from the StoryCorps "Finding Our Way" project, Andrea and Lawrence Charles talk about protecting their daughter while experiencing homelessness. Listen to their conversation, and see photos by Dan Lamont documenting the Charles's everyday life as they transition from homelessness to stability.

Policy Matters: Closing the Education Gap for Homeless Students

Guest blogger Laurel Kirbawy-Grenfell testifies in favor of the Homeless Student Stability Act before a Senate committee. Laurel writes that the act would help ensure that homeless students's basic needs are met. Image credit: TVW

Guest blogger Laurel Kirbawy-Grenfell's job is to partner with school districts to make sure children, including homeless students, are getting the services they need. She explains how the Homeless Student Stability Act would help children across the state achieve their academic potential, and shares what you can do to support this important policy.

“How Did I Get Here?” Tacoma Parents Reflect on Losing Home in StoryCorps Interview

Franklin and Sherry Gilliard live in transitional housing with their three children in Tacoma. Image credit: StoryCorps.

The Gilliards never thought they'd experience homelessness. Then the Great Recession hit, and their small business struggled. Drowning in debt, they eventually lost their home and moved their family of five into a shelter. Listen to their story, check out an infographic about child homelessness in Washington, and learn what you can do to spark change.

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