Katrina Leonard’s experience of being homeless has given her an insightful perspective

At the age of eighteen I spent six months living out of my car.  My trunk became my closet and kitchen.  My back seat became my bedroom.  Occasionally I was fortunate enough to sleep at a friend’s house on the couch but I couldn’t do that too many days in a row.  I didn’t want people to get suspicious.  Simple things I had taken for granted like eating and showering became difficult.  I never got used to it.

My passenger window was busted when someone broke into my car.  With little money to eat, I had even less money to put towards repairing it.  I covered it with a trash bag when it rained, but it didn’t prevent the water from coming in when it was windy.  It left my “house” with a constant mildew scent.  I never got used to it.

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