“Moira” was an amazing student. School was an escape and a motivator for her. At school things made sense: if she worked hard enough, she would get good grades. Her teachers were fair. Everyone kept to a consistent schedule.
Things at home were more complicated. Moira’s mother struggled with mental health issues, had trouble keeping a steady job, and passed Moira and her siblings between different family members for years.
Just a few days after Moira’s 18th birthday her mother told her it was time to move out. It was hard enough to take care of her younger siblings, her mother explained, and at this age Moira should be able to manage on her own. Moira was terrified, but her mother gave her no other option. Moira’s biggest concern was that she had just a few months left of high school. She knew if she had to find her own place to live there was no way she would have enough time to work to support herself financially while also getting good enough grades to stay in school.
She called her cousin to see if she could stay with her for a few days, and then she reached out to her school social worker. The social worker got Moira connected to Second Story for Homeless Youth, and in just a few days Moira’s goals of graduating from high school were within reach again.
Moira moved into a good apartment, where she had a landlord who believed in Second Story’s mission and had housed young people from Second Story in the past. Moira was able to graduate high school, get a job to help save money, and is beginning her first semester of college!
Second Story is continuing to help Moira as she transitions to college life, and we can’t wait to see what Moira will do with her future. Moira is thankful. She doesn’t think she could have finished school or found a safe place to stay without Second Story. Now, Moira is being rewarded for all of her hard work, not punished for the circumstances she couldn’t control.
