Meet the Staff: Melissa Howard

My name is Melissa Howard. I am a mother of four children.

Living in poverty most of my life helped me understand the struggles of today’s families.

My first real experience with homelessness as an adult was when I was in my early twenties. When I was on the street there wasn’t anywhere I could go to find out where to go to get food, clothes or anything else I might need to help me. It was all word of mouth. When I finally got off the streets, I was about twenty-five years old. I got off the street with the help of a friend.

Since my experience, I always wanted to give back and to help people who are still out there, trying to make it. That was when I heard about Street Sights through friends and family.

I sent in a poem, got involved in their journalism class and have been volunteering for almost two years now. I really enjoy volunteering at Street Sights. The people are great to work with and it gives the opportunities to get information out there for people who otherwise would just hear it through word of mouth.