Guest Story: Tyler

‘I’ve seen things you couldn’t even imagine.’

Tyler has been homeless and living on the streets of DC for more than half his life.  And at just 28 years old, he’s experienced enough trauma to last a lifetime. 

He left his native South Carolina at 16 in an effort to get away from it all.  He had dropped out of school in the ninth grade, and there wasn’t much left for him at home—not even family.  So he and a friend made a beeline for Washington, DC.

But when they arrived in the Nation’s Capital, his friend abandoned him.  Tyler was left without money in his wallet, homeless and wandering. 

And that’s when he fell into a life of drugs.  Tyler spent the next six years high on heroin and powder cocaine. 

It wasn’t until his two-year-old son was murdered in 2005 that he got clean. 

------------------
Nestled in the crook of Tyler’s right arm is a tattoo of his son.  Tyler, Jr. is seen kneeling next to his final resting place—a cross that bears his name and date of death, and marking the spot where he is now buried. 
-------------------

Tyler’s been sober for six years now, and trying to put his life back together.  He comes to Miriam’s Kitchen a couple of times a week to work on getting his identification cards and his dream of getting his GED. 

Tyler states emphatically that he won’t be homeless on his 30th birthday and if he can help it, no one else will be either.

‘I’m starting to see new people come in to Miriam’s Kitchen that are younger than me.  If I can help someone, even in my position, I’m going to do it—even if it’s my last dollar.’

He knows a tough road is ahead of him.  But, he also knows that there is hope. 

‘If I had housing, it would turn my life around.  Anytime I come to Miriam’s Kitchen, it’s like my home.  But I’ve got to get back on track. Nothing’s going to hold me back now.’

With just two years until his self-imposed deadline to get off the streets, Tyler is looking ahead and moving forward—for the first time in a long time.