When 15-year-old Carrie arrived at one of YouthCare’s shelters in May of this year, she arrived carrying more than the contents of her backpack. She was carrying the tremendous weight of years of housing instability, sharing with us during intake that the last time she felt truly safe and stable at home was when she was 7 years old. 

Carrie’s home life had long been unpredictable and unsafe. Her mom was battling addiction and serious health challenges, and over time, her mom became abusive—sometimes physically, and often verbally and emotionally. For Carrie, every day felt like a challenge to stay out of the line of fire and find a moment of peace. By the time she arrived at YouthCare, she had been in and out of her home more than a dozen times, often with nowhere safe to go. She felt anything was better than going home. 

The weight of her past showed up in many ways: anxiety, depression, symptoms of PTSD, and the deep exhaustion that comes from years of instability. She had stopped taking her behavioral health medications, fallen behind in school, and struggled with self-care. At YouthCare, she began to rebuild. With support from her case manager, she reconnected with a doctor and a therapist, restarted her medications, and got up to date on medical, dental, and vision care. For the first time in years, Carrie began to feel cared for, and capable of caring for herself. She enrolled in summer and online classes, determined to catch up and move forward on her own terms.  

As Carrie regained her footing, YouthCare’s team began working closely with her and her mom toward a shared goal: rebuilding trust and creating a safer home for her to return to. Through family counseling and gradual overnight visits, both took courageous steps toward healing and reunification. By August, just three months after Carrie arrived, she and her mom found themselves in a place where hope felt possible again, and they were ready for a fresh start. 

On August 10, Carrie packed her things—not because she had to leave, but because she finally had somewhere safe to return to.  

Carrie’s story is one of many that remind us what’s possible when young people are met with safety, compassion, and opportunity. With YouthCare’s support, Carrie found healing, stability, confidence, and the courage to begin again. 

(In this story, the name of the client has been changed to protect their privacy.)