When you meet “Alyssa” for the first time, you’re instantly drawn in. Her energy is magnetic—every sentence is filled with warmth and sincerity. In minutes, she makes you feel like you’ve known her for years.
Alyssa’s story begins with hardship. At just 14 years old, she was kicked out of her father’s home. Shuffled from relative to relative, Alyssa eventually found herself alone.
She remembers wandering to a familiar beach, where she met other homeless youths who became her makeshift family. They moved from house to house, relying on the kindness of distant relatives or strangers for a place to shower or sleep. But trust was hard to come by. “When you’re wandering, you need someone to let you in for respite,” Alyssa says. “But everyone wants something from you.”
She recounts the painful reality of survival: being a young girl on the streets meant being exploited. “It never started out that way,” she says, “but that’s what they always wanted.” To protect herself, Alyssa would wear layers of clothing to appear larger, tuck her hair into a hat, and walk against traffic to avoid being targeted. “Your life depended on it. There were all sorts of creeps out there.”
For 20 years, Alyssa lived in a cycle of homelessness, substance use, and abusive relationships. She lost custody of her two older sons. “I wasn’t there for them,” she says with deep regret. “I wish I had an advocate—someone to help me understand and navigate through it.”
Her turning point came after leaving an abusive relationship. Desperate for change, she reached out to friends for help. A friend took her to the DSHS office, where she was connected to resources and the Emergency Support Shelter.
At first, Alyssa was hesitant to stay in a shelter. But with reassurance from her caseworker, and a chance she’d receive a housing voucher, she stayed—and that decision changed everything.
“I’m most grateful for my housing,” Alyssa reflects. “Nothing else would have happened without it.” She remembers moving into her own apartment, setting up a Christmas tree, and asking herself, Am I really safe? It took time to believe it. “I used to go out on the balcony because I’d hear noises inside and think I wasn’t safe. I needed to see if danger was coming.”
Since securing housing, Alyssa has transformed her life. She enrolled in college and earned her Associate’s and Bachelor’s degrees. She’s built a stable home for her son and is determined to be the advocate she once needed.
Her story reminds us that housing is more than just a roof—it’s the foundation for healing, growth, and hope. Today, Alyssa is thriving. And in every step forward, she carries the strength of the girl who walked against traffic.