I was born in Manhattan. I was in a strict house I was the only one out of two sisters that just gave my mother a hard time. I wanted to grow up, be with my boyfriend. I was in the foster system since I was 11 or 12. I was running away to be with a boyfriend; my mother didn’t accept that. At junior high I started hanging out with my friends. By this time my boyfriend was an ex-boyfriend. I fell into drugs, heroin mostly. I came out of drugs at the age 21. I went into a Christian program, I’m a Christian now.

I became homeless because of health problems. At the age of forty I had a mild stroke. So that’s why I’m here. I find a homeless shelter helps me not work, pay rent, not do this, not do that. I have no worries. I have no children. I been in this shelter, Susan’s Place, since April 2008. Susan’s Place, has treated me well. It’s convenient with the trains and stuff. I’m grateful for the shelter. During the time I was homeless I kept on in school and became an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). I’m on no medications. I needed something to focus on. My focus is god and Jesus. Then I said let me get education. I’m a sophomore in college now. I ride the ambulances. I am a volunteer for the EMS. I get experience. Soon enough by September I’ll be going into the paramedic program at La Guardia College where it takes a whole year. I'm 43.

I’ve matured, I am confident; can’t wait to start living in my own place. It’s almost there. I’m waiting for a voucher on section 8. That already landed and the voucher is in the mail. I'm at the end. Once I get the voucher I start going to housing, paying some if it myself. I had a whole period of non-paying, of not worrying; that’s what the shelter system did for me. I will be fine, Praise Jesus, thank you God for recognizing that.