​One afternoon, Carla made a hurried call, fearing for her life. For the past year she’d been sexually trafficked and trying to survive. She needed help getting out.  

Born to a mother with HIV and struggling with drug addiction, 17-year-old Carla had experienced a lifetime of poverty and trauma, including the devastating death of her brother. Even still, when a social worker planned to remove Carla from the home, she fled. Arriving in Minneapolis with no money or plan, and a small bag of clothes, she lived on the streets while holding down a part-time job.  

With temperatures dropping and no place to go, it was hard to refuse an offer to move in with Ann - a woman she met one night. However, it soon became obvious the housing was not free.
​Carla was soon being trafficked around the Twin Cities and emotionally abused.  

Gradually, Carla started to trust a few people at Brittany's Place. Ms. Adelaide shampooed and braided her hair. Rhonda, the educator, encouraged her to give school another chance. The peer support groups helped make positive, healing connections with others in the program. 

After nine months at Brittany’s Place, and with help from a Case Manager, Carla secured supportive housing in Minneapolis, starting her new chapter.

Now, she's living independently, going to work, and has access to counseling services and other crucial resources. Carla is empowered, and continues to heal and grow.

Mila was homeless off and on for the last few years. Living with an emotionally abusive parent, she says, “made it very hard for me to create and maintain growth and success in many different aspects of my life.”  
 
After an especially bad fight with her parents, Mila ran – again. That night she slept outside, and the next day her friend drove her to Hope House, 180 Degrees’ Emergency Youth Shelter in Chanhassen.    

Having her basic needs met, and a team of staff who empowered her, she could start focusing on her goals. “I want to be doing work that supports me financially, and that inspires me. I want to make a positive impact on the world with my life and career”.  
 
Then, with help from a mental health counselor, Mila and her family were able to reconnect. After some important sessions of learning how to communicate with each other, they were able to agree on how to move forward -- together. 

David was living in a trailer in Rochester with his six siblings, with parents who were rarely around to take care of the seven children. With a stressful and unpredictable home life, David started having trouble in class. It became increasing hard to find the motivation to study and the energy to learn. Soon, David started skipping school.    
   
When David turned 13 years old, a social worker recognized that home wasn’t safe for him and his siblings. A foster family in the 180 Degrees network was able to take David and one of his brothers safely into their home. For two years, foster parents Sherry and Malcolm provided the steady supply of love, structure, and support they needed.     

Because he was given the support and shelter at a crucial time in his life, he was able to start healing and grow into the person he is today.