Bridge the Gap for Homeless Youth

Dear Friend,

I’d like to share with you the story of Marcelo, a young person working with LAYC’s Drop-In Center staff:

“I grew up in El Salvador without ever having met my father. When I turned 17 I was sent to live with him and his wife, whom he had never even told about me. From the beginning, she treated me like I was an inconvenience and seemed to take it out on me for my father having lied to her. One day after school, after I had turned 18, my father kicked me out, telling me that he did not want to risk throwing away his ten-year marriage for a kid that he didn't even know and was only tied to by blood. Of course, hearing my own father say that about me was very hurtful, so I immediately left their house, with nothing except the school uniform that I had on. 

The night I left, there was a blizzard. Having only been in the country and in DC for a short time, I did not know where to turn, so I spent a few nights sleeping under a bridge. I looked for shelter everywhere that I could, but I just kept getting turned away. I did have one friend who let me stay with him, but he was a drug addict and I did not want to fall into his lifestyle. He started offering me drugs and I worried that if I didn't accept, he would think that I thought I was better than him and would kick me out. I started getting high a lot but quickly became aware that I did not want that kind of life. I had grown tired of him pushing me around, so I knew that I had to do something.

Having been out of school since I had been kicked out of my father's house, I went back and asked to be re-enrolled. At the school, I met Ariana, an LAYC staff person. I worked with her for a long time. She helped me get clean and provided resources for food and clothes. Unfortunately, I had to leave the school once I turned 21.

I was given the opportunity to go to North Carolina for a job. I worked in construction but was paid very little. I only stayed there for six months and then decided to return to DC. Upon arriving here, I was homeless and unemployed once again. With the $300 that I had been able to save from my job in NC, I managed to rent a room with a nice family and once again, I returned to LAYC. I reconnected with LAYC staff and they brought me to the Drop-In Center, where I was able to shower, do laundry, and even cook my own food on occasion.

After a few months, I was able to get into an LAYC housing program and I am now living in an amazing apartment. I'm back in school, pursuing my GED, and I was able to get another job in construction here locally. The Drop-In Center staff, and LAYC as a whole, are helping me turn my life around. If anyone reading this has the kindness and ability to help support LAYC with clothes, food or monetary donations, it will be appreciated by all of us here and will go far in helping LAYC with their mission of continuing to help other youth like myself.”

Thank you for your support of LAYC’s programs for homeless youth. By donating just $25, you provide three nutritious meals for a young person like Marcelo.

Gracias,

Lori