Provide a safe start for children in need
When Kiara walked out of the hospital with her newborn daughter, she didn’t go home.
She went to a shelter.
At just 19 years old, Kiara had experienced more than most do in a lifetime—the loss of her parents, foster care, abuse, trauma, homelessness. And now, she was a new mom with nowhere to go and no support system to fall back on.
That changed when her caseworker connected her to Horizons for Homeless Children.
With your support, Horizons welcomed Kiara and her baby Marleni into a community of care. We provided early education for Marleni and personalized support so Kiara could turn a difficult past into a foundation for strength, growth, and success.
When her son Armani was born, he too joined Horizons, and it quickly became clear he was going to be different from his sister.
“He wasn’t into loud noises or crowded places and had a hard time transitioning and interacting with other kids,”
Through classroom observation, his teacher noticed signs of autism and Horizons stepped in—offering guidance, referrals, and critical early intervention services. Today, Armani is thriving in Horizons’ preschool with the care and specialized attention he needs. And his big sister, Marleni, has graduated into a smart, creative, and confident kindergartener.
Check out this video of Marleni coming home from school!
Horizons didn’t just offer early education – our staff, trained in a trauma-informed approach, was able to recognize the unique needs of Kiara’s family. We provided wraparound support to help her children while supplying Kiara with the tools and guidance to build her life.
With the help of her Horizons coach, Kiara returned to school, earned her diploma, and pursued her dream of working in animal medicine. She’s now a certified veterinary assistant and a proud mother of two, modeling for her children that with hard work and the right support system, their dreams are possible.
That support system includes you. Will you make a gift today to support families like Kiara’s?
Every child deserves a safe start—and every parent at Horizons is working toward building a better future for their families. Take it from Kiara:
“I want to give me and my children a better and deserving life no matter how long it takes.”
P.S. Kiara calls Horizons her “village.” Your generosity helps create that village—for her, for Marleni and Armani, and for so many others. Please make a gift before the end of our fiscal year on June 30th so we can plan to help more families find support, stability, and opportunity.
