Food for Lane County

Shelter from the storm

At 15, Kristine Boyd moved out of her mother's home because it was no longer safe to stay.

"My mom was making really bad decisions with men," said Kristine. "They would either be abusing me or they'd abuse her and she wouldn't do anything about it. I didn't want to stay in that situation."

So Kristine moved around, from one friend's house to another, from California to Oregon to Wyoming and back to Oregon, eventually landing in Eugene. She lived with friends, she lived with strangers, she lived in a tent and for a while she lived on the street. She tried to stay in school, but found it difficult to concentrate during the day without a place to sleep at night or do homework. After a while, it was just easier to stop going all together.

"The hardest thing about being homeless was making sure I was always warm and well fed," she said. "There were times when I only had water. I would do things to make myself not think about food. I colored. I did puzzles. Eventually I got used to not eating so I didn't feel hungry all the time."

Kristine found help and hope at New Roads School in Eugene, a Looking Glass Program and alternative school for homeless, runaway and at-risk children and teens earn class credit toward their high school diplomas or prepare for their GEDs. New Roads is also a member of the FOOD for Lane County Network and receives about 10,000 pounds of food a year from the food bank. At New Roads, Kristine found her strengths. She finished preparing for her GED, got a job, found an apartment and someday wants to go to college.

"I found out I can handle more than I thought I could," Kristine said. "I found out how much stronger as a single person I am. I don't have to depend on other people for everything."

Homelessness, like hunger, is most often an income issue, a consequence when income does cover expenses. In Lane County, a shortage of affordable housing is the main reason people become homeless. The majority of the people FOOD for Lane County serves are not homeless, but the few who are represent some of the most vulnerable people we serve. Winter is longest for those without shelter.