Asha’s Second Story

“Asha” has been in our program for about a year. She had been moving through our program and making good progress – saving money, holding down a good job, and learning to be a better parent to her three-year-old and one-year-old kids. When the COVID-19 pandemic grew serious, her hours were cut significantly at work.

Asha’s daycare provider tested positive for COVID-19 so her kids are home with her all the time, even while she works a few hours from home for her job. She’s doing her best to keep up with her bills, but the decrease in income has hit her hard. Second Story is increasing our rent support for her and bringing her food and other supplies like diapers, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and toilet paper weekly.

Asha struggles with anxiety and this situation has, expectedly, been hard on her. Due to the pandemic our staff are not meeting in-person with youth, instead scheduling phone calls, though we get to see them about once a week to deliver supplies and we love seeing them face to face through our masks! We’ve been encouraging Asha by talking about her anxiety, processing what she can and cannot control, and reminding her of our support. We’re committed to helping her and the other youth in our programs get through this time.

Need Help?

If you need help right away, our 24/7 hotline provides support and referrals to services in the Washington DC metro area.
Call 1-800-SAY-TEEN or text “TEENHELP” to 855-11

Your Impact

We make every dollar count. The direct support of young people, their families and their communities, is our first priority. Here are examples of how your donation may be used.

$20,000

  • Three high school students experiencing homelessness receive a full year of rental assistance and support services so they can remain in school and graduate with their class.

$1,000

  • One teenager receives a safe haven, warm bed, food, and round-the-clock support for five nights at Second Story for Teens in Crisis, or
  • Eight months of therapy for a young woman in the Second Story for Young Mothers program.

$500

  • One teen receives daily counseling during a three-week stay at Second Story for Teens in Crisis, or
  • Twenty counseling sessions for the children and teens who are at-risk and participating in our after-school programs.

$100

  • Three teens receive a therapy session at Second Story for Teens in Crisis, or
  • Two weeks of food for a young mother and her child at Second Story for Young Mothers.

Thank you for your support!