Around the age of fourteen, I became homeless. Homeless youth are much harder to understand and recognize compared to homeless adults. Situations with my family left me without a stable home and an inconsistent everyday life. My parent’s relationship had always been very unhealthy. When they divorced in 2008, I was left to live with my mother. While I love my mother very much, there is no denying that she has various addictions and was unable to support us. As a result, we became homeless that summer. While she soon found temporary housing with different friends, they were people that I was extremely uncomfortable being around. It is very painful to see someone you love, someone that is supposed to take care of you, unable to even care for themselves.

As for my father, he had remarried and his new wife and family wanted nothing to do with me.  I was disowned. I felt alone and that the situation was my fault. Because I had no place to go, I assumed there must have been something wrong with me, something that made me so unwanted.

I found myself reaching out for help in all the wrong places. I figured out places to sleep at night. If anyone asked, I would just refer to it as “staying with friends.” But, I was really staying with drug addicts, alcoholics, and dealers – anyone that didn’t mind me sleeping on their floor for a night or two. Being so unstable caused me to move around. While I was originally from Ann Arbor, I spent weeks, even months at a time, living in Detroit, Grand Rapids, Chicago, and Texas. As soon as I overstayed my welcome, or no longer had something to offer the person taking me in, it was time to pick up and start over again.

I was referred to Ozone House by a friend of mine. I saw firsthand what Ozone had done to help her. I walked into my initial intake meeting thinking, “I have nothing to lose, so it must be worth a shot.”  The feeling that overcame me that day is something I will never forget. For the first time, I was able to voice my situation, fears, and thoughts without judgment and without some authority figure undermining me.  I was given back control over my life. Ozone helped me see that this is my life and I am the only one who can define it. They have been with me every step of the way. I’ve experienced a lot of ups and downs , but with their support, I have continued on my life’s journey. Ozone was there to help me finish high school, find my own apartment, maintain a dependable job, choose a career, escape from an abusive relationship, and realize my self-worth.

Ozone sees the potential in what people think of as “broken” or “lost” youth. They give them what they need the most – someone who truly cares.

I came to Ozone House searching for help with my financial and economic needs.  At the time, I was not old enough to have a job in the community.  So, I started with the basics – babysitting, dog watching, and taking care of people in the neighborhood.  These were my only options.  Finding good clothes to wear for the next day also became a challenge for me.  Some days, people would notice that I would wear the same clothes over and over again due to not being able wash my clothes.  At times, I would even go without food to save whatever scraps we had left for my family.  With us not having food stamps or enough income to get fresh food, it became a problem to have healthy food.  Being a Type 2 Diabetic, I was not supposed to go days without food or my health would go down.  It was a struggle.

Ozone House has been a blessing to me. Through a program called WorkZone, they helped me learn how to do a resume and cover letter, improve my job search skills, get regular and interview clothes and even find a job.  I became an intern at the Department of Human Services for a year and worked with teens who share the same story as me. Through Ozone House, I also worked with a case manager who helped me get myself together.  He helped me to get food, find a place of my own and open a bank account.  I became more economically stable.

Little by little, I’ve became more comfortable and felt more safe within this community.  I am now volunteering at Ozone’s Drop-In Center to help out as much as I can in my free time.  Because of Ozone House, I feel happy, loved and worth the time to be here as a young adult.

I still remember those days. I remember sleeping in a car or ditch, and crying myself to sleep at night, wishing I would die. But I couldn’t. I had my siblings to take care of. Nobody knew it either. Nobody had the slightest clue that I was struggling with the fight for food every day and finding a bed to sleep in at night. My pride was too high and I was embarrassed to say anything, even if it meant going to school in the same clothes for a week.

Months after my journey begun, I started to find the courage to seek help. After finally speaking up, I saw myself on the local Fox News channel and, just like that, a swarm of community members began to help me. Social workers were everywhere – questioning me about my next place to stay or how much food intake I had that day. My school set up permanent transportation to get me there and my school counselor took me into her home. Strangers came to the ditch I was sleeping in and gave me money and clothes and offered to take me in so I could shower. Different churches knitted me blankets and donated food and personal hygiene care packages. Soon I began to find hope. As the community called their attention to my cry for help, I began to see a future of stability for my siblings and me.

Years later, as a happy, normal teenage girl, I wanted to give back; give back to the community that helped get me up while I was down. I began working at Ozone House, a homeless shelter and nonprofit organization designed to create the stable life every young person deserves. It was important to me that endangered youth in Washtenaw County were off the streets. Ozone House helped fit into that goal. It is the only youth-oriented homeless shelter in the county and takes about 2,000 calls a year on their crisis line assisting callers in receiving help with abuse, homelessness and family conflict. One year after participating in Family Therapy Services at Ozone House, 96% of youth have safe and stable housing. Finally, roughly 8,000 meals are served through Ozone House’s three different locations each year.

Ozone house has provided me the ability to become a responsible member of our community. Working there as a Peer Outreach Worker, I have had the chance to talk to hundreds of youth in the county and set them up with services we provide. This youth-friendly organization has not only impacted my own story, but has saved the lives of many others. Thank you Ozone House for all the hard work you put into the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti areas and for granting me the ability to give many others a chance to live.

In fact, I did graduate on time! Months later, I had my beautiful son. We were left with no other option for housing but to move in with my son’s father’s mom in Ann Arbor. She suggested he stay with her, while my son and I go to a shelter. I was afraid, but that’s what we did. Because I didn’t have any family in the area, I was dependent upon my child’s father and his mother. But, they shut me out, refusing to watch my son while I worked. Luckily, I was able to get help through Child Care Network. I continued working and walking two miles to and from my son’s daycare every day before and after work. During this time, my son’s father attempted suicide twice, and had to be rushed to the hospital.

My son and I returned to his father and his mom’s apartment. The abuse started again. He was referred to Ozone House during one of his hospital stays. They were very helpful, giving him an outlet and someone to genuinely listen to him. It was working for him, so I decided to give them a try. I loved it! I’ve never had someone so engrossed in what I had to say. I felt relieved. Then, I became pregnant with my second child, and his father’s mom told us we had to leave. I again reached out to Ozone House. Within a month, we were in our very first apartment. We were part of adopt-a-family and given so many holiday gifts it seemed unreal. We received things that we would have never have been able to afford but desperately needed.

One of the Ozone therapists agreed to do couples therapy with us. I needed the abuse to stop, especially being pregnant. After about two months of therapy, the abuse stopped. Life seemed perfect – too perfect.

Four months after my daughter’s birth, her father murdered her.

Once again, Ozone stepped in and started a donation for the funeral and for my son’s development. They were my best friends throughout the entire traumatic event. They even supported me by attending the funeral. By going to Ozone House, I was awarded friendship, trust, honesty, and a lot of people who refused to see me down. Thanks to Ozone, I have not been homeless for three years, and I am in college. I had someone to vent to when I lost my child. When I was depressed, they saved my life. Had it not been for Ozone, I would be back to square one, homeless and alone. I am finally happy.

Ashley credits Ozone House for providing a safe, stable and supportive place where she could focus on completing high school. Her mother struggles with poverty and illness that render her unable to provide a safe and stable home, which resulted in months at a time of homelessness for Ashley and her family. During these periods, even the most basic needs were inaccessible, and Ashley’s schooling was constantly interrupted.

After several stays in Ozone House’s Emergency Shelter, Ashley moved into Miller House, Ozone House’s transitional living program for homeless youth ages 17 to 20. Miller House provides stable housing and teaches essential life skills to youth who would otherwise be homeless or in unsafe living situations. Many of these youth age out of foster care without a support system or the skills and resources to live independently.

“It’s hard to ask for help, but Ozone House never made me feel bad about it,” Ashley explains. “At Ozone House, I didn’t have to worry about packing my bags because we couldn’t pay the bills.”

Because of the stability Miller House provided, Ashley was able to improve her grades and was accepted to three colleges. “Ozone House gave her the support, tools and guidance, but ultimately she took over and did it herself,” shares Ashley’s case manager.

“I’m very grateful,” says Ashley. “I know I can trust Ozone House to be there for me no matter what.”

But through her visits to the Drop-In Center she also received a different kind of sustenance. “All these positive young people were reaching out to us – people I could personally identify with.

“Meghan is undoubtedly one of the most creative and talented people I have ever met,” shares Colleen O’Brien, Youth Development Director.

At 16, Meghan became the youngest member of Project SpeakOUT, Ozone House’s poetry team. With the team, Meghan has the opportunity to participate in a nation-wide competition in New York City. “Seeing the city and participating in these amazing things made my dream of going to school in New York one day seem more real,” Meghan explains.

Through her poetry and support at Ozone House, Meghan became an important voice to her peers. “Poetry helps me express myself, and I’ve had the chance to share my message with others.” Meghan became a Peer Outreach Worker at the Drop-In Center to reach out to other high-risk youth. Each year the POWs reach more than 2000 youth by handing out help cards and offering support and positive encouragement.

Among many community service projects, Meghan participated in outreach efforts as a motivational speaker in Detroit middle schools. “She uses her talent and creativity to engage other youth and make them feel comfortable,” says Colleen.

Never losing sight of her ultimate goal to return to NYC, she continued to work hard at school with the support of Ozone House staff and peers. Meghan began attending classes at NYU in the Fall of 2007.

“Words cannot describe how proud I am of Meghan. She never wavered from her goal. She believed in herself and we believed in her.” Colleen O’Brien, Youth Development Director

Cyn learned about Ozone House because her older sister stayed in the Emergency Youth Shelter and participated in counseling. “There was so much drama at my house,” Cyn says. Her dad was an alcoholic and she dealt with frequent fist fights and other abuse. From age 11, she describes her living situation as “in and out of the house.”

Her parents kicked her out permanently at 15, so she moved into her aunt’s 3 bedroom house, along with 9 other family members. Soon after, her aunt was evicted and Cyn had nowhere to go. “I probably moved to 20 different places in 3 years,” Cyn says.

At 18, Cyn moved into Miller House, Ozone House’s transitional living program. However, the real victory came the day that Larisa, Cyn’s Ozone House Case Manager, called to let her know that she had received Section 8 Housing. “I was so excited I was crying and praying when I found out. I was just thinking, ‘I’ve been blessed.’”

Cyn has also been blessed with artistic talent. “As long as I can remember,” she says “I’ve always impressed my art teachers.” Cyn is also one of the newest members of Project SpeakOUT, Ozone House’s youth poetry team. “Art lets me express how I feel. I don’t have to worry about reality, and I can never mess up.” Cyn is enrolled in Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in the fall. “Music controls my life!” she says. Her goal is be a radio DJ. Once she “makes it” in radio, Cyn hopes to do everything she can to promote Ozone House. She says, “Ozone House helped me get my life straight and move forward.

On Robin’s first day at Ozone House, Robin met a housemate, Melinda. 21 years later they are still best friends and they support each other through thick and thin.

Today, Robin has 5 beautiful children and she is fully employed by Lucky’s Market in Ann Arbor. “Ozone House changed the course of my life and I am forever grateful”, says Robin.