Finding Home: Alexandra's Journey from Survival to Stability

At 21, Alexandra jingles her house keys with a butterfly keyring—a reminder of her mother, who loved butterflies. The keys represent something profound: after years of instability, she finally has a place to call home.

Alexandra's journey came to an abrupt and heartbreaking stop when, at 16, her mother died at the hands of gun violence. The love and relative stability her mother had given her were gone. With no real connection with her father, Alexandra spent the next several years going from house to house, couch surfing, and eventually becoming homeless.

It was her teacher, Ms. Guthrie, who suggested The Night Ministry as a solution. Alexandra was hesitant at first—her experience with shelters hadn't been great—but her face now lights up at the mention of The Crib. "It's the best – clean, organized, they feed you, and the people are so nice and attentive. They made it all so easy, and they took the fear away."

From The Crib to the Interim Housing program at West Town, and finally to her current home in North Lawndale through the Scattered Housing program, Alexandra's path to stability moved remarkably quickly. After just four months, she had her own set of keys and a sense of real hope.

Now enrolled in culinary school at Kennedy King College with a part-time job at Limelight, a high-end catering company, Alexandra is exploring her passions while keeping her options open. Though she loves to cook, she's considering vocational training in carpentry or welding—something practical but still artistic.

Her apartment reflects her creative spirit, decorated with original artwork and her unique style. But what strikes you most about Alexandra is her genuine warmth and infectious smile. Despite everything endured, she has a mission: "I just really want to make everyone smile."

"Being homeless is very depressing; it takes a toll on you mentally," she acknowledges, serious for just a moment before her characteristic joy returns. To young people facing similar struggles, she offers this wisdom: "It's ok to be you. Never base yourself on what you have and what you don't have. I'm unapologetic about who I am, I just live and celebrate the small things."

Friends often invite her out, but Alexandra prefers spending time at home—the place she loves most. "Life is like chutes and ladders," she reflects, "it's a long way up and a short slide down, you just need to keep climbing up."