Up Close

Homelessness does not have one face. It affects men, women and children of all races, places, ages and backgrounds. Some face significant barriers to self-sufficiency. Some just can’t find affordable housing on their wages.

Although the issue is not simple, the personal stories below show us there is hope.

Meet Taylor:

Taylor knows what it means to live on the streets because that’s where she spent what she describes as “10 horrible years.” She lost her mother when she was only four and grew up in a family prone to chemical dependency. She explains, “My chemical journey began at a young age because I didn’t know any other way of living.” As result, she faced ongoing challenges with drugs, housing, and taking care of her children.

Taylor firmly believes that no one can help a person until one is willing to help oneself. When she was ready, New Foundations was there. After bouncing around from shelter to shelter, she finally got into New Foundation’s Crestview Apartments. Crestview provides housing for families struggling with homelessness, chemical dependency, and mental health illnesses.

Today, Taylor has permanent housing and a community that supports her sobriety. Her experiences have revealed that people often don’t know where to start when they need help dealing with mental health or chemical dependency issues. She believes that easy access to treatment is critical for many people experiencing homelessness.

Her new home had allowed Taylor to make tremendous progress in turning her life around. Clean for over a year now, she does not see herself ever associating with people who use. She recently reestablished relationships with her children and other family members. She even had a visit with her father—her first in ten years. Now employed as care-taker for New Foundations, she has plans to go to college for nursing in the fall.

Taylor credits her new community for getting her back on track, explaining that they taught her how to live a normal life. It all sometimes leaves Taylor in awe. “I really thought I would die on the streets,” she explains. “I can’t believe I got my life back.”

Other Up Close Profiles

• Meet Sharie
• Meet Jarrad
• Meet Teresa

Facts About Homelessness

• On any given night over 9,000 adults, youth and children are homeless in Minnesota.
• More than 600 youth 17 or younger in Minnesota are on their own.
• Nearly 1 quarter of homeless adults were homeless as children.
• 28% of homeless adults are working
• 52% of adults have a mental illness

Learn More

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