#PeopleofNEI: Quentin, looking for a home

Northeast Indiana is evolving. These are the people shaping its future. #PeopleofNEI

This week’s feature:

Quentin, 23, has been homeless in #FortWayne for three years. He was born here and received his diploma from a local high school but things took a turn for the worse when his mother was killed by a vehicle while walking from her job in 2014. “I have mental health issues, a speech impediment, a learning disability, and have been struggling with PTSD and depression since my mom was killed four years ago. My mom and I had no where to live and it was hard for her to find a job. We walked everywhere together. When she finally did find a job, she was struck by a car after her shift. Being homeless is hard and, quite frankly, I hate it. I want better. My biggest dream or hope everyday is to find a job and find a real home. I think about marriage and kids just like everyone else. It may or may not come true. I just don’t know what will happen. I’m not even sure where I am sleeping tonight. It’s hard to find a job because everything is online and I don’t have easy access to technology. Once I became homeless it became harder each day to not be homeless. In my childhood, I was physically, sexually, and mentally abused by others in all the ways you can think of. It’s so bad I can’t even really talk about it. It’s not something you would want to hear me say. I’m easy going and know how to work hard. I’m a nice person but when people pass me on the street and pretend I’m not there, it hurts. I don’t like asking for money because when I do I know that I’m taking money away from someone that worked hard for their own paycheck but I have to find a way to get through each day. Being an addict is hard and I’ve struggled with it most since my mom died. Most days feel the same. It’s just another day, even on my birthday. If someone gives me a few dollars, I’m blessed. I mean that. That’s all I can really say right now.” #PeopleofNEI

A post shared by Input Fort Wayne (@inputfortwayne) on Apr 16, 2018 at 4:11pm PDT

#PeopleofNEI: Quentin, looking for a home

Author

Related Articles