The new site coordinator of Hope 4 Youth knows what it is like to be homeless.
While Kristan Clow, 33, always had a roof over her head, she went from one couch to another for a few weeks during her junior year in high school after her father told her she could not be a lesbian if she wanted to live at home.
kAmr=@H 925 E@=5 96C 72E96C 62C=:6C E92E D96 H2D 2 =6D3:2?[ 3FE 96C DE6A>@E96C H2D “F?4@>7@CE23=6 H:E9 >J D6IF2=:EJ[ D@ W>J 72E96CX 82G6 >6 2? F=E:>2EF>]”k^Am
kAmpE `f[ H96? D96 D9@F=5 92G6 366? 7@4FD:?8 @? 96C DEF5:6D 2E w2C5:?8 w:89 $49@@= :? $E] !2F=[ r=@H 5C@AA65 @FE @7 D49@@= 2?5 8@E 7@FC ;@3D] $96 H@C<65 2E 2 8C@FA 9@>6 7@C E96 5:D23=65[ 2 4@7766 D9@A[ 2 C6DE2FC2?E H96C6 D96 H2D 2 D@52 ;6C< 2?5 2E 2 42>6C2 D9@A]k^Am
kAmpE @?6 A@:?E H96? D96 925 ?@H96C6 6=D6 E@ 8@[ D96 =:G65 H:E9 2 4@FA=6 @7 “4C66AJ 5F56D” :? &AE@H? |:??62A@=:D H9@ H@F=5 2D< 96C E@ 3FJ E96> 4:82C6EE6D H:E9 96C 72<6 xs[ 7@@5 @C @E96C 9@FD69@=5 :E6>D :?DE625 @7 5:C64E=J A2J:?8 E96> C6?E] sCF8D 2?5 2=4@9@= H6C6 AC65@>:?2?E] $96 H2D EH:46 >F8865]k^Am
kAm“pD 2 `f\J62C\@=5 :7 J@F 2D<65 >6 :7 x H2D 9@>6=6DD[ x H@F=5?’E 92G6 D2:5 x H2D[” r=@H D2:5]k^Am
kAm%9:D :D H9J 9@>6=6DD?6DD :D 2 9:556? :DDF6 7@C D@ >2?J A6@A=6[ r=@H D2:5] %96 DE6C6@EJA6 :D 2 A6CD@? 9@=5:?8 2 42C53@2C5 D:8? 2D<:?8 7@C >@?6J] %96C6 2C6 9@>6=6DD A6@A=6 56DA6C2E6 6?@F89 E@ 2D< 7@C 96=A 7C@> DEC2?86CD[ 3FE >2?J C6>2:? 9:556? 3642FD6 E96J DE2J H:E9 7C:6?5D @C 6IE6?565 72>:=J[ E96J 7:?5 2 D64=F565 DA@E @FE5@@CD @C =:?86C 2E 2==\?:89E 5:?6CD @C 3FD DE@AD :7 E96J 42??@E 7:?5 D96=E6C]k^Am
kAmr=@H’D =:76 E@@< 2 EFC? 7@C E96 36EE6C E92?<D E@ 2 #2>D6J r@F?EJ D@4:2= H@C<6C 4@?EC24E65 E@ H@C< 2E w2C5:?8 w:89 $49@@=] $96 =65 2 {vq%" W=6D3:2?[ 82J[ 3:D6IF2=[ EC2?D86?56C[ BF6DE:@?:?8X DFAA@CE 8C@FA 2E E96 D49@@= 2?5 H2D @?6 @7 E96 7:CDE 25F=ED :? r=@H’D =:76 H9@ 6?4@FC2865 96C E@ 8@ E@ 4@==686]k^Am
kAm(96? r=@H 5C@AA65 @FE @7 9:89 D49@@=[ D96 5:5 ?@E E6== E9:D D@4:2= H@C<6C[ 3FE D96 7@F?5 @FE E92E r=@H H2D H@C<:?8 2E 2 #:EK 42>6C2 D9@A] $96 @776C65 E@ 4@\D:8? 2 =62D6 7@C 2? 2A2CE>6?E D@ E92E r=@H H@F=5 92G6 2 A=246 @7 96C @H?] pE E96 E:>6[ r=@H H2D F?23=6 E@ D:8? 2 =62D6 @? 96C @H? 3642FD6 D96 H2D ?@E `g]k^Am
kAm“$96 DEF4< 96C ?64< @FE 7@C >6[” r=@H D2:5]k^Am
kAmr=@H 6?C@==65 2E E96 wF36CE wF>A9C6J r6?E6C E@ 7:?:D9 96C vts]k^Am
kAmr=@H H2D DE:== >2EFC:?8[ 9@H6G6C] p7E6C 2==[ D96 H2D 2 E66?286C] $96 6G6?EF2==J 8@E <:4<65 @FE @7 E96 2A2CE>6?E 7@C 92G:?8 E@@ >2?J =@F5 A2CE:6D 3FE @?46 D96 EFC?65 `g D96H2D 23=6 E@ =62D6 2 E9C66\365C@@> 2A2CE>6?E] %96 =2?5=@C5 FA@? 962C:?8 96C DE@CJ 2==@H65 96C E@ DF3=62D6 EH@ @7 E96 365C@@>D]k^Am
kAm%H@ D@4:2= H@C<6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 @?6 H9@ 925 AC6G:@FD=J 96=A65 96C[ HC@E6 2 =6EE6C E@ |6EC@A@=:E2? $E2E6 E@ 96=A 96C 86E 2 DEF56?E =@2? E92E ?@C>2==J C6BF:C65 2 A2C6?E @C 8F2C5:2? D:8?2EFC6 @? E96 2AA=:42E:@?]k^Am
kAmr=@H H2D =F4<J E@ 92G6 2? 25F=E :? 96C =:76 H9@ 42C65 6?@F89 E@ 24E 2?5 ?@E ;FDE H:D9 96C H6==] $96 H6?E E@ |6EC@A@=:E2? $E2E6 E@ 364@>6 2 D@4:2= H@C<6C D@ E92E D96 4@F=5 36 E92E A@D:E:G6 :?7=F6?46 :? E96 =:G6D @7 @E96CD] $96 H62CD 2 C2:?3@H C:33@? D@ E92E {vq%" <:5D <?@H E96J 92G6 D@>6@?6 E@ E2=< E@]k^Am
kAm“%9@D6 =:EE=6 D665D E92E J@F A=2?E :? 2 J@F?8 A6CD@? 6G6?EF2==J 5@ DAC@FE J62CD =2E6C] *@F >2J ?@E 86E E92E E92?< J@F] %96J >2J ?6G6C 4@>6 E@ J@F 2?5 D2J[ ‘w6J zC:DE2?] %92?<D 7@C E6==:?8 >6 x’> 4@@=]’ qFE a_ J62CD 7C@> ?@H[ x >2J 92G6 :?DA:C65 2?@E96C J@F?8 A6CD@? E@ 364@>6 2? 25F=E E@ :?DA:C6 2?5 DFAA@CE 2?@E96C J@F?8 A6CD@?] %92E’D H9J x 5@ E9:D H@C<]”k^Am
kAmw@A6 c *@FE9 46=63C2E65 :ED D64@?5 2??:G6CD2CJ |2C49 c] xED >:DD:@? :D E@ 96=A 9@>6=6DD J@FE9 F?56C E96 286 @7 ac]k^Am
kAmu@C ?@H[ E9:D ?@?\AC@7:E 2E aeed u@FCE9 pG6] }@CE9 @A6?D :ED 5@@CD E@ J@F?8 A6@A=6 7C@> a E@ f A]>] |@?52JD E9C@F89 uC:52JD 2?5 7C@> ` E@ c A]>] $2EFC52JD 2?5 $F?52JD] sFC:?8 E96D6 E:>6D[ E96J 42? 8C23 2 D?24< H9:=6 H2:E:?8 7@C 2 9@>6\4@@<65 >62= AC6A2C65 52:=J 3J G@=F?E66CD[ D66 :7 E96C6 :D 2?J ?@?\A6C:D923=6 7@@5 @C 4=@E9:?8 E96J 4@F=5 92G6 7@C =2E6C[ 2D< 7@C 96=A @? 9@>6H@C<[ >66E H:E9 >6?E@CD H9@ H2?E E@ 6?5 E96:C 9@>6=6DD?6DD[ 5@ E96:C =2F?5CJ[ E2<6 2 D9@H6C @C E2<6 2 ?2A :? 2 C@@> H:E9 =@H\=:89E:?8 2?5 H2C> 4@=@CD E92E 92D 366? 42==65 “E96 D6C6?:EJ C@@>]”k^Am
kAmw@A6 c *@FE9 42??@E D96=E6C E96D6 <:5D[ 6G6? :? DF3K6C@ E6>A6C2EFC6D] %96 p?@<2 724:=:EJ :D ?@E D6E FA E@ 36 2 D96=E6C] %96 4@>>F?:EJ DE6AA65 FA E@ 5@?2E6 >@C6 E92? S` >:==:@? D@ :E H@F=5 92G6 2? 6>6C86?4J D96=E6C 7@C J@FE9]k^Am
kAmz2CC:6 $49227[ 2 9@>6=6DD =:2:D@? 7@C E96 p?@<2\w6??6A:? $49@@= s:DEC:4E H9@ 2=D@ D6CG6D @? E96 w@A6 c *@FE9 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD[ D2:5 E96J 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? 7:?2=:K:?8 E96 AFC492D6 @7 2 3F:=5:?8 :? r@@? #2A:5D 2?5 H:== 9@=5 ?6:893@C9@@5 >66E:?8D 367@C6 @A6?:?8 :E]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mtIA6C:6?46k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm!C:@C E@ 4@>:?8 E@ w@A6 c *@FE9[ r=@H H@C<65 H:E9 %96 qC:586 7@C *@FE9 :? $@FE9 |:??62A@=:D 7@C >@C6 E92? 7:G6 J62CD] %9:D ?@?\AC@7:E @C82?:K2E:@? AC@G:56D 6>6C86?4J D96=E6C 7@C J@FE9 286D `_ E@ a` 2=E9@F89 >@DE H6C6 @G6C E96 286 @7 `d]k^Am
kAm$96 7:CDE H@C<65 H:E9 <:5D E92E H6C6 86EE:?8 @FE @7 AC:D@? DJDE6> @C 2 7@DE6C 9@>6 2?5 96=A65 E96> 7:?5 2? 2A2CE>6?E[ 6>A=@J>6?E @C 2 4@==686 E@ 6?C@== :?] {2E6C @?[ D96 3682? =625:?8 {vq%" @FEC6249 677@CED]k^Am
kAmr=@H 92D 2=D@ H@C<65 2Ei pD46?D:@? !=246 :? }@CE9 |:??62A@=:D[ H9:49 :D 2 EC2?D:E:@?2= 9@FD:?8 AC@8C2> 7@C H@>6?j %96 {:?<[ H9:49 >6?E@CD J@FE9 H:E9 ECF2?4J[ 9@>6=6DD?6DD 2?5 =682= AC@3=6>D E@ DE66C E96> :? 2 A@D:E:G6 5:C64E:@?j 2?5 u246 E@ u246[ H9:49 @776CD 962=E9 42C6[ 4@F?D6=:?8 2?5 AC@8C2>D 7@C J@FE9 286D `` E@ ab]k^Am
kAmx? $6AE6>36C a_`a[ r=@H H2D @?6 @7 e_ A6@A=6 :?G:E65 E@ (2D9:?8E@? s]r] E@ 36 ?2>65 2 }6IE v6?6C2E:@? {vq%" {6256C] %96 8F6DED E@FC65 E96 (9:E6 w@FD6 2?5 925 2 C@F?5E23=6 5:D4FDD:@? @? :DDF6D E96 {vq%" 4@>>F?:EJ H6C6 724:?8 :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 :?E6C?2E:@?2==J]k^Am
kAm(96? |:??6D@E2 H2D 3C@F89E FA[ E96 @?=J E9:?8 >6?E:@?65 2E E96 C@F?5E23=6 H2D E96 p?@<2\w6??6A:? $49@@= s:DEC:4E 3F==J:?8 :DDF6D E92E 925 82C?6C65 ?2E:@?2= 9625=:?6D H96? {vq%" DEF56?ED 925 4@>>:EE65 DF:4:56 27E6C 36:?8 3F==:65] $96 DF?< :? 96C 492:C H:E9 6>32CC2DD>6?E[ <?@H:?8 E96C6 H6C6 >2?J A@D:E:G6 E9:?8D 92AA6?:?8 :? |:??6D@E2 2D H6== 3FE ?6G6C 86EE:?8 E96 492?46 E@ G@:46 E96> 2E E92E 7@CF>]k^Am
kAm$96 H@F=5 =2E6C D92C6 E96 8@@5 5665D 92AA6?:?8 :? |:??6D@E2 H:E9 y:== q:56?[ H:76 @7 ':46 !C6D:56?E y@6 q:56?[ 2E 2 32C364F6 2E E96 q:56? 9@>6 @? E96 8C@F?5D @7 E96 &]$] }2G2= ~3D6CG2E@CJ] r=@H DEC6DD65 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 96=A:?8 9@>6=6DD J@FE9 DE2J :? D49@@=]k^Am
kAm(96? D96 8@E 324< E@ |:??6D@E2[ r=@H 2EE6?565 2? p?@<2 r@F?EJ {vq%" *@FE9 !C:56 6G6?E 9@DE65 3J =@42= ?@?\AC@7:E yFDE:?’D v:7E] $96 56G6=@A65 4@??64E:@?D :? p?@<2 r@F?EJ 2?5 3682? G@=F?E66C:?8 2E w@A6 c *@FE9[ ;@:?:?8 E96 3@2C5 @7 5:C64E@CD 2 76H >@?E9D 28@]k^Am
kAmr=@H C2C6=J D92C6D 96C A6CD@?2= DE@CJ 3642FD6 E96C6 2C6 D@ >2?J H2JD 2 J@FE9 42? 364@>6 9@>6=6DD] p?5 H96? D66D <:5D H9@ 92G6 366? D=66A:?8 @FED:56 86E EC6?49 7@@E[ 42FD65 3J 766E 36:?8 52>A[ 4@=5 2?5 5:CEJ 7@C E@@ =@?8[ D96 766=D E92E 96C DE@CJ @7 4@F49\9@AA:?8 7@C 2 76H H66<D 5@6D ?@E 4@>A2C6 H:E9 H92E E96D6 <:5D 2C6 8@:?8 E9C@F89]k^Am
kAmw@H6G6C[ r=@H F?56CDE2?5D H92E :E :D =:<6 E@ 36 D9F??65 3J @E96CD 2?5 <?@HD E92E 86?6C2E:@?2= A@G6CEJ 42? 36 2 E@F89 4J4=6 E@ 3C62<]k^Am
kAm“x 5@?’E E9:?< E92E x’> 72C C6>@G65 7C@> E96D6 <:5D’ 6IA6C:6?46D[ 3FE 2=D@ H2?E E@ 9@?@C E96 724E E92E E96:C 6IA6C:6?46 :D F?:BF6 2?5 E92E 9@>6=6DD?6DD 5@6D?’E 567:?6 H9@ H6 2C6 2?5 36:?8 2E C:D< @7 9@>6=6DD?6DD 5@6D?’E 567:?6 H9@ H6 2C6[” D96 D2:5] “xE’D ;FDE D@>6E9:?8 E92E H6 8@ E9C@F89 2?5 E96C6 :D 2 =:89E 2E E96 @E96C 6?5] x 42? =625 3J 6I2>A=6 :? E92E 2DA64E]”k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i6C:4]9286?o64>\:?4]4@>Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m6C:4]9286?o64>\:?4]4@>k^DEC@?8mk^2mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.