It’s hard to imagine the fear of bringing a new baby into the world with no home to go to. 

But that was Shayla’s reality. 

At just 19, Shayla became a mom for the first time. Like many teens, she clashed with her own mother. When things escalated, Shayla found herself with nowhere to go. 

“I had no idea what I was in for,” she told us. “Things fell apart pretty quickly.” 

For years, Shayla drifted between couches, shelters, and the street. She was hungry. Exhausted. Her belongings were constantly stolen. She became addicted to drugs. She lost contact with her daughter. And worst of all, she lost hope. 

“I never thought I would get out of it. I didn’t think I deserved it.” 

But then, Shayla found out she was pregnant again—and everything changed. 

“I just knew I had to change things,” she said. “As soon as I found out, I stopped using. I wanted to have a healthy baby.” 

Getting clean was just the first step. Finding stable housing was much harder. 

Shayla called shelters, desperate for a place to stay. “There was no room,” she remembers. “I was terrified I wasn’t going to have a home for her when she was born.” 

United Way funds programs that provide both immediate needs and also long-term solutions for people experiencing homelessness. Thanks to the generous support of donors like you, Shayla connected with a caring housing worker through a United Way-funded program at London Cares. That support changed everything. 

“Just to know that you have somebody there to support you and have your back …it means a lot. If I didn’t have that, I don’t think I would have made it this far on my own.” 

With help navigating rental applications and setting up a safe, stable home, Shayla finally moved into an apartment of her own. 

“My daughter has her own room now. She has her own stuff to grow up with. And I have responsibilities. I’m in a completely different mindset.” 

Today, Shayla is clean. She’s stable. She’s safe. She has rebuilt connections with her family. And most importantly, she’s hopeful. 

“I’m just really happy that I’m not going to be back in that situation. I can learn from my mistakes and do it differently this time around.” 

Right now, far too many people in our community are living rough, sleeping in shelters or on the streets. It’s easy to lose hope.

Shayla’s story is a reminder that with the right supports like housing, mental health care, and someone who believes in them—people can rebuild their lives.