Diamond is from Houston, Texas, but currently resides in El Paso. She is a graduate of the Young Adult Leadership Council and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of Texas at El Paso. Her goal is to attend law school and become a family attorney to support children and families. She is passionate about advocacy for underrepresented voices and making a difference in her community.
Diamond recently worked with TNOYS on a blog post about her experience with homelessness at a young age, the support that could have helped her, and how she hopes her voice can make a difference for young people in similar situations. Read her blog post below.
Being a kid was never easy, but being a homeless kid? That was a whole other story. My mom, my older sister, and I had already faced a lot, but nothing could prepare us for the nights we spent sleeping in her car. My mom was just 18, with two toddlers to take care of, and she was doing her best to survive in a world that didn’t seem to notice we were there. Juggling raising us while trying to figure out how to make ends meet, everything felt like one big struggle, with no clear way out.
The truth was, home was wherever we could park. We never stayed in one place for long, just long enough to catch a few hours of sleep before moving somewhere or going to school. We did our best to stay out of sight, keep a low profile, hoping no one would notice us. But my mom was carrying her own burdens, too. She was still just a teenager herself, who had dropped out of high school. She had no one to turn to. My grandmother, who should’ve been the one to help us, couldn’t. She was in and out of jail. And my biological dad was barely around, coming and going like he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to be a part of our lives.
We didn’t have much, but my mom always made sure we had what we needed. We got food from school, clothes her friends would give her for us, and she was always out there looking for a job, doing whatever she could to keep us going. It wasn’t easy, nothing ever was, but she made sure we never went without the basics. We didn’t have much in the way of things, but we had each other, and somehow, that was enough to keep moving forward, even if it was just by inches.
But keeping things together was a constant struggle. It was like we were stuck in a cycle, fighting to survive but never quite getting the help we needed to break free. There was no family to lean on, no one to give us a break. My mom didn’t know how to access resources or support from service providers because she was unaware of what the process would entail. My mom was also terrified that if anyone found out about our situation, they might take my sister and me away from her. And since my grandmother was in and out of jail, she didn’t want to risk losing custody of me and my sister if she were to seek help. She didn’t have a support system, and while she fought to protect us from feeling the full weight of our situation, I could feel it.
Looking back now, as an adult, I see how much my mom sacrificed, how much she endured, and how fiercely she fought for us. I see the love she had for us. My mom showed me what resilience truly looked like. Watching her, I learned that strength isn’t about having it all together; it’s about holding on, even when everything around you is breaking down. She wants us to know that we have to do better than she did, to build lives that are stronger, safer, and more stable than the ones we grew up with.
Access to services for families experiencing homelessness is important because parents should have the resources needed to help provide for their children. Young parents, such as my mom, would have greatly benefited from receiving extra financial assistance and help finding stable housing. Many families and young parents struggling with homelessness need guidance from service providers on how to access resources such as child care, educational and employment opportunities, and even healthy meals. Service providers can help young parents thrive by fostering safe and meaningful connections with them.
Now, as I look back, I hope that someday, someone will remember that there are kids and parents out there like us, struggling, but still holding on. I hope someone will see that fight and understand that no one should have to face it alone. No one should have to carry that burden without a hand to hold or a place to turn when they need it the most.