A Teen’s Second Chance
How stable housing changed Jameisha’s future
Jameisha as a teen with her mother, brothers, and niece
Jameisha was 15 years old when she and her family moved to Atlanta—and soon found themselves without a stable place to live. The second oldest of five children and the only girl, she carried a lot at a young age. What followed was more than a year of homelessness, spent moving between shelters, hotels, and sometimes their car.
Living in shelters felt especially overwhelming as a teenager, and the lack of privacy and constant uncertainty made it hard to feel safe—at a time when safety mattered most.
“It was very scary,” Jameisha said. “It wasn’t just moms and kids there, it was everybody.”
During that time, her family connected with CaringWorks, and things began to change. The family moved into a furnished apartment—something Jameisha remembers clearly.
“It wasn’t just a house,” she said. “It felt like a home. And it was furnished.”
Jameisha stayed enrolled in high school at first, but even with housing stability, depression made it difficult to keep going. Instead, she poured her energy into working.
“I was depressed and I started skipping school. I’d go for an hour and was like, ‘I don’t want to be here, I’m going to work so I can make money.’ When I was almost 18, I stopped going to school, period.”
Her determination to work was strong, but with encouragement from her CaringWorks care coordinator, Jameisha was convinced to finish what she started. She enrolled in an alternative high school and graduated.
During this time, Jameisha was also navigating family tension. Her mother had dealt with untreated mental health challenges, which affected everyone in the household. With stable housing, consistent support, and access to care, her mom began managing her mental health, and relationships within the family started to heal.
Jameisha with her brothers
“We had to work on getting back as a family,” Jameisha said. “Once we had a roof over our head, we could start doing that.”
CaringWorks also helped create a sense of community that Jameisha hadn’t experienced before.
“They didn’t just say, ‘Here’s a house.’ They organized activities—cookouts, music. We met other families. They didn’t make us feel alone.”
Today as an adult, Jameisha is focused on building a future that reflects her independence and determination. She lives on her own, works full time in a warehouse, and is preparing to become a truck driver—a career she’s excited about and feels drawn to.
“I love the road,” she said. “I feel like there’s nobody but me and the road, and the world is mine. You can go see whatever you want to go see.”
“This is my year,” she added. “I’m turning 25. When people ask where I see myself in five years, I see myself in that truck.”
Jameisha doesn’t dwell on the hardship of her past. Instead, she focuses on what she learned— and what became possible once her family had stability and support.
Jameisha today
“It was hard, but it made me stronger,” she said. “I love who I came out to be.”
The impact of CaringWorks goes beyond housing—for Jameisha, it allowed her to gain confidence, finish school, build a strong work ethic, and set her sights on a future she’s proud of.
“I feel like CaringWorks gave us a second chance,” she said.
Help more people break the cycle of homelessness.
About CaringWorks:
Built on the single idea that all people—no matter their social or economic standing—should have a chance to improve their quality of life, CaringWorks has served thousands of clients since our inception in 2002. Since then we have grown exponentially to become one of Georgia’s leaders in providing permanent supportive housing. We serve hundreds of individuals each year through unique programs and services that are specifically tailored to the needs of those facing chronic homelessness.
Donate today to help us end homelessness.
January 2026