Project WHY

Project WHY - A Nonprofit

Project WHY is a nonprofit organization that provides our unhoused neighbors with a platform to share their stories while simultaneously changing the perceptions of homelessness in America.

I founded Project WHY in the summer of 2022 with the hope of making a difference in our unhoused neighbors' lives as well as changing the perceptions of homelessness in America. I noticed a discrepancy in how homelessness was being treated - a lack of connection to and understanding of the issue. People saw and knew that there were people without homes on the streets but, since they were not knowledgeable on the topic, there was a lack of attention brought to homelessness from the general public. This also meant that individuals experiencing homelessness were not being heard, since the stigma around drug addiction and mental illness was, and is still, so prominent. With this, I made it my mission to educate myself and others about homelessness and its causes through those experiencing it. To carry out this mission, I partner with various organizations to interview our unhoused neighbors using their resources, write their stories, and publish them on Project WHY's website.

Click here to reach the website.

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The Project WHY Podcast

In honor of Project WHY's one-year anniversary, The Project WHY Podcast launched on July 4, 2023. I created the podcast to be a complement to the personal stories on Project WHY's website. Here, I bring on different professionals in the field to discuss pressing topics surrounding homelessness. This makes Project WHY an all-encompassing educational resource, where people can learn about the experience of homelessness as well as how people & organizations work to end it.

Click here to listen! Available on all listening platforms.

Unhoused & Unheard

Unhoused & Unheard is an extension of Project WHY, focusing on personal stories from our unhoused neighbors, categorized by the four most prominent causes of homelessness - catastrophic injuries, domestic violence, addiction, and mental illness. Also included are in-depth analyses of remarkable organizations that provide resources to our unhoused neighbors. Quotes from executives within these organizations provide readers with different perspectives on issues surrounding homelessness. The book is filled with insight from my experience and philosophies as a teen in this field, resulting in a fresh perspective on a most pressing societal issue.

100% of profits go directly to Project WHY's mission.

Click here to purchase on Amazon.

Unhoused & Unheard is a thoughtful, nuanced, insightful study of one of the most serious problems in America today - the growing epidemic of homelessness. This is a difficult topic for anyone to tackle, but for a girl of 15, it is simply astounding! It is NOT preachy, and has no political ax to grind. It simply explores the problem from multiple angles, drawing on detailed interviews and statistics, to sweep away many incorrect assumptions about people who end up homeless (yes, some are drug addicts, but most are NOT; many worked their whole lives & then suffered a life-changing injury that wiped out their savings). It also gathers helpful resources and insights from people who work with this population. The author showcases stories of real people who worked their way out of homelessness, which proves that homeless does not have to mean hopeless. This is an amazing project from an amazing person. For those of us losing faith in today's youth, look at what this teenager has done! I can't wait to see what she does next. Inspiring & eye-opening, on many levels. Bravo!