'If I Die, I Die': Overcoming More Than Homelessness

“I was told I had two weeks to find a new place. I tried to ask my parents if I could live with them, and they refused to let me stay.”

Riding on an electric bike in the middle of the night, trying to find somewhere to stay, W.B. rode from Camden, New Jersey, to Chinatown in Philadelphia, hoping and wishing for a miracle.

He first stopped at a friend’s place, but the friend told him the landlord would not allow it.

Many of our young people, like W.B., grew up in homes that were physically, emotionally, and mentally abusive. W.B. felt he had no other choice but to return to the toxic environment he had escaped at a young age. But his parents refused him.

That’s when he left, in the middle of the night, on that electric bike, crossing state lines. One tire began to fail, but W.B., teetering on the edge of determination and apathy, said to himself, “I have to leave. If I die, I die.”

He finally made it back to the residence he was two weeks away from losing.  Just one more sleep, he thought. He just had to make it through the night.

His friend told him about Covenant House Pennsylvania, and he called the shelter to see if they had any place for him.

“Not tonight, but we will call you if anything opens in the morning.” said the front desk person.

As W.B tried to fall asleep, his mind began to race, wondering what would happen if he took a handful of his pain medication. Would that end his pain forever? He said to himself he just needed to make it through the night. He went outside for a walk until he was tired again, falling asleep on the couch.

The next morning at 7 a.m., his phone rang. It was Covenant House. “We have a bed for you, How soon can you get here?” said Ms. Joyce.

Leaving everything but essentials behind, W.B. was on the train by 7:15 a.m. By 8 a.m., he walked through the doors of CHPA, where he was welcomed with open arms. He went through the intake process, while eating a bag of salty chips, and a loaded sandwich.

“I remember saying to myself, this is the first time in years I’ve been able to eat a second serving. It was the first time in years I was able to eat until I was full. Then I slept peacefully, like a baby.”

Always an avid learner, W.B. was particularly interested in CHPA’s workforce development program. He worked closely with his case managers to explore pathways that matched his interests and long-term goals.

During this process, CHPA staff introduced him to the Google IT Support Professional Certificate program — an accessible online training that allows young people to build in-demand technology skills and pursue careers in IT. He was able to work as a developer, design websites, learn how to complete inventory, and successfully set up 66 monitors and computers. The opportunity immediately sparked W.B.’s interest, and with the encouragement of his case management team, he began pursuing the program.

“This type of work comes easy to me,” he shared.

After successfully completing the program, two CHPA board members — moved by W.B.’s commitment and determination — stepped forward to further support his journey. They helped fund additional IT certification courses and connected him with a six-month internship at Seer Interactive, where he is now gaining hands-on experience in the technology field while continuing to build his career pathway.

“I love my internship! Every day I ask, ‘Is there any more fun things for me to do today?’”

Beyond his academic and professional accomplishments, W.B. has also taken meaningful personal steps toward independence. He moved from the CHPA shelter into our transitional living program. After saving his earnings, he recently adopted a cat named Omar, an exciting milestone that reflects the stability and sense of responsibility he has worked hard to achieve. He shares that this level of stability means he has a door that locks, a fridge that's full, a stove to cook at, a bed to lay down on, and an emotional support cat that he rescued from the same abusive home he grew up in.

This spring marks another significant moment in W.B.’s journey: He is set to graduate from college on May 15. His achievements are a powerful reflection of his determination  and the impact that safe housing, mentorship, and educational opportunity can have for young people overcoming homelessness.

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Learn more about how Covenant House’s education and workforce development programs help young people like W.B. build skills, find jobs, and discover paths forward.