Jackie became unhoused at age 15 when she ran away to escape the trauma of living at home. She was feeling weighed down by the emotional traumas of watching her older siblings go in and out of juvenile detention and her mother’s battle with addiction. She stayed at a park off Cranston St for two weeks until her high school counselor learned of her situation and intervened. Jackie credits her close teachers and counselors for helping her get to where she is today. Eventually she was able to get into a shelter owned by the Urban League of Rhode Island.

In 2011, Jackie received the terrible news that her brother was murdered and decided to leave the state. After a year, she found herself homeless again and was homeless in three other states before deciding to return to Rhode Island. Jackie now works for House of Hope, the organization that housed her out of homelessness. She has been working at House of Hope for 7 years.