John and Shannon explain how they balance school, work, and survival while living without stable housing. She is a student pushing through finals, desperately needing power outlets for her laptop, often being denied even at shelters supposedly meant to help. He supports her studies, even spending his last money on a phone for her classes, despite his own struggles with a heart condition and past boxing injuries. They describe being cheated out of pay for painting and cleaning work, lied to by someone who promised wages but disappeared.
Their lives revolve around moving constantly to avoid theft, setting up their tent discreetly, and keeping their area clean so children don’t encounter needles in parks. They share bikes, backpacks, and storage space, treating these as their mobile office. Despite hardships, they lean on each other—he says his goal is her success, while she pushes to maintain a 4.0 GPA. Their story highlights resilience, dignity, and love in the face of systemic neglect and everyday challenges of homelessness.
