Meet Kristen: Eighteen and Homeless: One Moorhead Teenager’s Story

Imagine being 18 with just a backpack on your shoulders and alone. Last fall, Kristen started her senior year at Moorhead High School homeless.

“This year was a really tough year for me, and I wanted to end my life. I didn’t want to live that life anymore.” Those are hard words to hear. But because of people like you who give to United Way, this student was given hope. Meet Kristen.

Imagine being 18 years old with just a backpack on your shoulders and no one to lean on for support and guidance. After losing her parents, Kristen started her senior year at Moorhead High School homeless and without a stable place to live – bouncing from place to place trying to get by in this world alone.

“I didn’t have parents growing up. They were both alcoholics,” said Kristen. When her mother passed away, she was on her own to figure out how to meet her basic needs. Becoming an adult is a challenge in the best of circumstances. Being 17-and-alone made it nearly impossible.

At Moorhead High School, Kristen met Amy Riccio, a Homeless Liaison, who became a pillar of support, a guide, and a mentor – connecting her to resources to make sure she had enough food to eat, clothes to wear, access to health care, and most importantly hope for her future.

“I was moving in and out of places, staying in hotels and trying to go to school. If it wasn’t for Amy, I don’t think I would have made it,” said Kristen.

Kristen represents just one story of the approximately 1,000 local people that are homeless each night right here in our local community. What many people may not expect, is that of those experiencing homelessness locally, approximately 20% are children.

We believe kids like Kristen deserve opportunities to reach their full potential. Poverty is probably more common than you imagine.
In fact, right here in our community, 1 in 7 children live in poverty. If an average classroom has approximately 20-30 kids, that’s 3-4 kids in every classroom who may be struggling with basic needs like food, a safe place to live, and support at home.
By investing and working together to improve the lives and futures of local kids – we all succeed.

View more stories like Kristen’s.
Learn more about our Bold Goal to Prepare Children to Succeed.
Give now to help kids like Kristen.