Help an 18-Year-Old Escape Homelessness

I’m reaching out to ask for your support for a close friend and coworker of mine who is currently facing homelessness at just 18 years old. For their safety and privacy, I’ll keep their identity anonymous, but I want to share their story in hopes it moves you as much as it’s moved me.

Just two months before turning 19, they made the incredibly brave decision to leave a complex home situation. Since then, they’ve had no stable place to live and no vehicle. This has made every part of daily life—whether it’s getting to work, staying dry during rainstorms, or simply feeling safe—a constant challenge.

They’ve been sleeping on city streets and in the woods, sometimes through heavy rain, without shelter. As a queer and gender-nonconforming person, local shelters are not a safe or viable option. They’re also far from the jobs this person is working so hard to keep.

Despite all of this, they are showing remarkable resilience. They are working three jobs while continuing their education. That alone speaks volumes about their determination and work ethic. But even with that strength and hustle, it’s still not enough to break out of this cycle without some help.

Their goal is to save up enough to get a car by the end of the summer. My goal is to help them reach that sooner. Reliable transportation would be life-changing. It would give them access to stable housing, safer working conditions, and a real shot at building the future they deserve.

If you knew them, you’d love them. They are kind, driven, and full of potential. Any amount you

Thank you.

note: the photos for this fundraiser were all taken by the recipient