by Brittany Bateman | Apr 25, 2017 | Anniversary Series
“Homelessness happens. When I walk through the doors in my high school you can’t tell I live in a shelter. We all walk in different shoes.” (Marianne, age 17) Each day for a month Marianne, 17, filled her backpack with a few personal belongings and stored them in her...
by Brittany Bateman | Mar 28, 2017 | Anniversary Series
For as long as he can remember there was only his father and himself. There was always conflict. He is the first to admit that he didn’t want any rules. However, as he matured he saw his father behave in ways towards him that he knew were not right and that he could...
by Brittany Bateman | Mar 21, 2017 | Anniversary Series
Sometimes I feel my mother never loved me. Maybe she didn’t. There’s nothing to suggest otherwise. No early morning cuddles. No kiss going out the door. No warm embrace when I was at my lowest No comforting voice to vanquish my nightmares. But I do remember a hefty...
by Brittany Bateman | Mar 14, 2017 | Anniversary Series
“My name is Matthew and I was a long term resident at YWS. I came to YWS 6 years ago, struggling with drug and alcohol problems and dealing with the recent loss of my mother. I was on a path of self-destruction. Upon arriving at YWS I was greeted and welcomed by a...
by Brittany Bateman | Mar 7, 2017 | Anniversary Series
Winona’s father punished her not only with words of anger but with angry fists. Winona knew she had to leave home for her own survival. She set aside money each week from her pay cheque but it was not enough to afford a place of her own. The turning point was when...
