Shannon balances survival on the streets with her determination to build something greater. She talks about the small daily challenges, like finding ways to stay clean through “bird baths” at gas stations or churches, while reflecting on the irony that unhoused people often stayed healthier than those living comfortably during COVID. The heart of her vision is a shelter she hopes to establish—an “all-in-one service” center that would provide not just beds but also healthcare support, transportation, and compassion. She explains that trust, respect, and keeping promises are the foundations of what she wants to build, because she has too often seen places that fail to follow through.
Despite hardship, she stays focused on her studies, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and pursuing IT in healthcare development, which she sees as a stepping stone to her larger goals. Throughout, her faith in God and gratitude for the few people who believe in her provide strength. She becomes emotional at several points, especially when describing how she was once judgmental of people in need but, after experiencing homelessness herself, she now deeply understands the pain of being ignored. Her dream is both practical and spiritual: to create a place where dignity and support replace stigma and neglect.
