From Motel Room to CEO: Addressing the Crisis of Unhoused Youth

Interview Recorded on: August 9, 2025

The Human Story Behind the Statistics
Jennifer Friend's journey from a child living in Orange County motels to becoming CEO of Project Hope Alliance reveals the hidden reality of youth experiencing homelessness in America. Her story challenges our assumptions about what homelessness looks like and shows us the incredible potential that exists when we truly see and support vulnerable young people.

Growing up as one of four children, Jennifer Friend experienced what she calls being "economically schizophrenic" - sometimes living oceanfront in Newport Beach, other times in motels on Harbor Boulevard. Her family would pack their belongings in hefty bags every 30 days due to local ordinances, spend one night at their grandmother's house, then return to the same motel room the next day.

Despite winning awards in Model United Nations at prestigious universities like Harvard and Georgetown, Jennifer Friend graduated high school with a 2.65 GPA. Not a single educator asked if she was okay, even as her transcript showed a stark disconnect between her obvious capabilities and academic performance. She was invisible in plain sight.

"The sense of not being seen is something that is not only isolating and lonely, but it's dehumanizing," Jennifer Friend reflects. This invisibility drove her to keep her story secret until age 42, fearing that others would decide she wasn't "good enough" to achieve her dreams.

The Crisis We Can't See

Today, Orange County alone has identified over 32,000 students experiencing homelessness in K-12 public schools - and data suggests for every identified student, two more remain hidden. Nationally, 1.37 million students in public education systems are experiencing homelessness.

These young people face staggering challenges:
• Only 67% graduate high school (compared to 95% through Project Hope Alliance's intervention)
• 40% higher likelihood of suicidal ideation due to loneliness and invisibility
• Constant educational disruption from housing instability
• Limited access to basic needs like food, hygiene, and medical care

Yet here's the powerful truth: High school graduation reduces the likelihood of adult homelessness by 400%. Education isn't just transformational - it's preventative.

The Solution: Showing Up for the Whole Child

Project Hope Alliance's model places trauma-informed case managers directly on middle and high school campuses full-time. Each case manager works with no more than 30 students, providing wraparound support that goes far beyond academics:

• 24/7 availability for crisis situations
• Basic needs support through on-campus food, hygiene, and clothing pantries
• Transportation to medical and therapy appointments
• Advocacy in educational meetings and even court proceedings
• Relationship building that eliminates the isolation these youth experience

"We do life with them," Jennifer Friend explains. "It's non-prescriptive. We're there before school starts, after school ends, and we're on call 24-7."

The results speak volumes: Project Hope Alliance achieves a 95% graduation rate - over 30% above the national average. Each graduate adds $75,000 annually to the local economy, creating a powerful return on investment that far exceeds program costs.

How You Can Make a Difference

• Become a Community Champion: Visit projecthopealliance.org to learn more and help lift the invisibility around youth homelessness. Share this knowledge in your community - people can't solve problems they don't know exist.

• Teach Empathy: Help your children understand that approximately 3 students in every classroom may be experiencing homelessness. Encourage simple acts of kindness without judgment - sharing food, including others, and recognizing that everyone has a story.

• Advocate for Policy Change: Support unified definitions of homelessness that include families and youth, not just individuals living unsheltered. This policy alignment would unlock resources and create more comprehensive solutions.

• Share Your Story: If you've experienced housing instability, consider how your voice might help others feel less alone and show what's possible when we overcome these challenges.