January 2015: Sarah & Talia
October 2014: Keita & Terrell
June 2014: Megan & Clayton
Tyiesha’s Story
Tyiesha was a “couch surfer.” When she came to Almost Home she had been living from house to house to house with her young daughter, Shyla. After a week with a friend or a couple of weeks with relatives, or a month with a boyfriend, it was clear that they were no longer able to live in these overcrowded conditions, tapping into the generosity of friends or overstaying their welcome as relatives. She and Shyla, an active toddler, were simply not wanted. After all, Tyiesha had dropped out of high school, was unmotivated to do much with her life, and was not really working on changing any aspect of the way things were. Like so many teenage mothers at Almost Home, she lived from day to day – not thinking about what she would do five years or even one year from now, and having no belief that a future was possible. After two years at Almost Home, Tyiesha finished high school, completed training as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant, and got a job at a local senior living facility. No longer at Almost Home, Tyiesha and Shyla are now followed in Almost Home’s Aftercare Program which provides resources, counseling, and even life skills classes to former residents. She has her own apartment and credits Almost Home with making the biggest difference in her life. “It was hard because I didn’t want to do anything, but they helped me believe in myself,” reports Tyiesha. “Now Shyla and I can look ahead with hope and pride in what we’ve overcome.” The next step for Tyiesha is the pursuit of a registered nursing degree – and somehow we think she’s going to make it.