Homeless teen: From Denny's parking lot to hope

Today Momlogic shares the story of a homeless teen. I've been privileged to read about this teen for a few days and the the behind-the-scene details are fascinating. A fellow author, Brandilynn Collins, started reading the teen's blog after a random e-mail from Katy. She read about how the teen and her mother were evicted from their apartment, how the disabled mom ended up living in her car when her funds ran out, and what homelessness looked like as Katy blogged away (using free Internet wifi in parking lots) on her blog called Destination Anywhere But Here.

Katy described what it felt like to sleep in Denny's parking lot, or how tired she was the night they were run off a public lot.

Brandilynn started sharing the story on Twitter, her blog, and the word started flooding cyberspace. A woman drove to the girl and her mom and paid for a two-night stay in a hotel. Soon others found out and donated clean clothing or additional funds for another night in the motel. A local station picked up the story. Then a national news agency. Now it's on Time Warner's Momlogic.

I don't know where this story will end. Can I share my hopes? I pray that a teen girl, someone who no fault of her own ended up on the streets, will have safety and security.

Today she answered a lot of questions on her blog. Some that are expected. Others that show how unaware we are of what it is like to be out of luck or to have life turn upside down without warning.

All I know is that today I am fed.

Today I have a warm house.

Today I am safe.

And it's what I pray for this young girl and her mom, too.

Sixteen-year-old Katy has put a face on homelessness. Author Brandilynn has shown us what can happen when you do something. The others have shown us that we live in a nation that cares.

It's hopefilled, this story. I can't want to hear the 'rest of the story'.