Born Into Homelessness. Choosing Hope Anyway.

Daqion’s story starts where many hope theirs never will: born into homelessness, raised without a safety net, and left to navigate life on his own. He told us, “I wasn’t someone who lost everything. I never had it to begin with.”

Growing up in the system meant instability was his normal. Friends and stability came and went, and even family connections faded. He hasn’t seen his mother in years and doesn’t know if she’s still alive.

Yet, despite it all, Daqion keeps moving forward. He recently earned his GED and is working with counselors to pursue college—steps that symbolize opportunity more than anything he’s ever known. He’s determined to find work, even though the job search is steep when you don’t have an address, reliable transportation, or basic necessities. Sometimes he stays with friends, but often he has no choice but to sleep on the street.

When we asked what he needed most, he didn’t ask for money. He asked for hygiene products and a change of clothes—small things that help him show up to opportunities with dignity.

Daqion’s story is proof that resilience doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from choosing hope every single day, even when the odds feel stacked against you.

At projectUmbrella, we believe these stories matter—because dignity doesn’t require a home address.