Sage, 19, is a Colorado native with Native American roots who has been homeless for about four months. He spends nights walking the streets when he can’t find a safe place to sleep, struggling with exhaustion but trying to keep his mind clear. Family conflict and constant arguing pushed him away from home, though he stresses he wasn’t neglected or abused—just caught in dysfunction he didn’t want to live around. Sage talks about his older brother Storm, who he sees infrequently, and about how he fills his time drawing, skateboarding, and helping others with small tasks for food or cash.
Despite the uncertainty of daily survival, Sage focuses on the short term, planning only one day at a time while still holding bigger hopes: a stable job, roommates, eventually saving enough to start a small cell phone business. He’s not ready for college yet but leaves the door open for later. When asked about the street environment, he avoids drama and fights, preferring to keep to himself. Though he admits homelessness can feel like “the lowest of the low,” he insists on figuring things out day by day and doesn’t want pity—only understanding.
