Stories

The Homeless Youth Connection (HYC) has helped many children and with the help of yours HYC hopes to help many more. The names have been change to protect their identity. Since the beginning of this school year the Homeless Youth Connection has been supportive 109 children in the west valley. Nine of these children have been given part time employment, and all of the youth have a safe home to reside. Here are a few stories of the children that HYC has helped and in some cases continuing to help currently.

Individual Stories

John - 18, Senior, Estrella High School - was been abused by his mother, a drug abuser. John was cared for by Child Protective Services until his 18th birthday. Now that he is 18 he needed a place to live, food, clothes, hygiene items, place to stay and more. John does not miss school, he is enrolled in extra classes and on his own to get extra math tutoring. John is a soft spoken clean cut kid who wants to study law and be a Marine. Although his mother is a drug user and abuser he still goes and visits her, from time to time. HYC is helping to get him signed up for a Marine early entry program.


Greg’s - 18, Verrado High School - biological parents moved out of state a few years ago. They left him with abusive uncle. Greg stayed there the last few years and now that he is 18 he has gotten away from the abuse at the cost of being homeless. He gets good grades, has a part time job and is looking to enroll at Universal Technical Institute. He needs a place to live, food, clothes. HYC is helping Greg find a safe place to live, get enrolled in UTI. Greg is part Native American. HYC can hopefully, help Greg access health and educational benefits through government programs for Native Americans.

Mark & Bobby - 9 and 10 year olds - Liberty Elementary - were living for months in a car in the desert with their mother who was a drug abuser. Mark and Bobby were taking care of their mother until she was arrested for drugs and sent to prison. They were then taken to their grandmother who had been searching for them for almost a year. Unfortunately, their grandmother was laid off from her job. HYC has helped with clothes, school supplies, hygiene items, pillows and blankets and food and more. Mark wants to be a Marine and Bobby wants to join the Air force. They are both highly intelligent A students with experiences far beyond their age. They never got to play and be kids. Granma wants them to play and be kids for a while!

Megan - 18, Senior Agua Fria HS – was abandoned by her mother as soon as she turned 18. She spent Christmas eve looking down the barrel of a gun, but did escape unharmed. New Years, she was allowed to stay one night at a shelter, but only one night because the shelter said that they were over loaded, during her one night stay she was robbed of everything Megan had which wasn't much and left only with the clothes on her back. HYC helped her with clothes, food, hygiene items, a place to live and more. Megan would like to join the Navy - HYC have sent a Navy recruiter to speak to her.

17year old boy senior, His mother passed away, and he was staying with an uncle who was abusing him. He was homeless for awhile until a school friend brought him home. He asked his mother if he could stay for a while. He stayed one night, and then gave our office a call. HYC was able to outfit him with clothes, food vouchers, blankets, hygiene items, and a new backpack with school supplies He is a good student, and HYC assigned him to a school that was closer to the place he was able to stay for awhile. He was scared and hungry, but brave. HYC also worked with Don Mellon of McDonalds ,and succeeded in getting him a part time job. HYC was also provided with a bicycle for transportation to work.

17year old boy-senior, Both parents went to jail. A student at a high school brought this boy home to his mom, and said he was homeless. HYC was able to outfit him with clothes, hygiene items, sleeping bag, food vouchers, and a new backpack with school supplies.

18 year old boy senior, He is graduating late because him mother was sick the last four years, and he helped to take care of her the last year in hospice. She passed away a few weeks ago. There house foreclosed leaving him homeless. He was temporarily put up in a hotel. He was very hungry, and had a bad cold. HYC got him breakfast, blanks, pillows, clothes, food vouchers, and school supplies. HYC also provided him with a pay/as you go emergency phone. He has been placed in a safe home in Buckeye, and is looking to join the Air Force upon graduation. He said, "what ever he does he wants to make his late mother proud."

Single mother with 6 children-school age children from grades kindergarten through 9, father left them, and the mother lost her job. They were living in an old van through the summer heat for two months. HYC were able to guide the mother to New Life, and gave the children sleeping bags, blankets, and clothing such as socks, underwear, undershirt, food vouchers, and hygiene products. HYC also put them in touch with Pastor Nick of the All Faith Food Bank and outreach center for additional food. They now have a apartment, with no furniture. HYC are currently looking for beds for their apartment.

17year old boy junior, was hurt playing football, and the announcer called his parent to the field and they were not there. The coach found out that his aunt and uncle were taking care of him, and moved away. His mother is in jail. A teacher's aide took him to his home. HYC were able to help the student with some of his urgent needs.

17year old boy senior, HYC was notified by the counselor at a west valley high school that the student was homeless. The student had been trying to continue in school, but living in the streets. He had a father that was an alcoholic and abusing him. When HYC met him he had multiple cigar burns on his body. The student was a very kind youth, and thankful for our support. HYC gave him clothing, food vouchers, and placed him in a home near his high school. HYC found him a part time job at a local hardware store. He also received a brand new bicycle to able him to go from school to work He is looking into joining the Air Force after graduation.

Recently HYC interviewed 10 yr and 12yr old brothers that became homeless when their mother was placed in jail from drug abuse. The grandmother gave them shelter, but recently lost her job. They came to our homeless center, and where give each a gift bag with values of $400.00 each. This included food vouchers, gift cards, and hygiene products. The grandmother broke down in tears, and thanked us for our generous support. The brothers are continuing their education.

A 16yr old girl attending a local high school was recently interviewed. Her mother has been under hospice care, and funds were exhausted at home. The girl had only the clothes on her back. Currently, she is living with a friend. HYC has supplied her with clothing, school supplies, hygiene items, and food vouchers.