What Will It Take?

A raw look at perseverance, sacrifice, and the emotional toll of chasing change. What will it take to truly move forward?

There’s an unspoken understanding in life that to break a cycle, something has to change. I’ve learned this lesson through personal experience, through low points that forced me to accept things I never thought I would. Through memories, both distant and vivid, that have shaped who I am today.

I remember the interior of a two-door Chevy Nova, the backseat transformed into a makeshift bedroom for our family. Though it lasted only a brief moment in time, it seared into my memory, a haunting reminder of how quickly life can turn.

Then there was Texas, a place that promised new beginnings after leaving the military, only to find myself unable to afford the apartment I had chosen. The Pontiac Bonneville became my home, the cold snowy nights of Amarillo a stark contrast to the warmth of ambition that had brought me there. Amarillo Community College became both my educational institution and a symbol of my struggle to rise from the depths.

But nothing compares to the sight of my mom, lost in thought on a bench, the weight of the world on her shoulders as she pondered our next move. No money, no place to live, just a glimmer of hope provided by my brother’s friend’s parents who managed an apartment complex and allowed us to stay with them until a new door opened.

These experiences have taught me the willingness to give up everything for my family to survive, even if it means surrendering the home I live in now. It’s a willingness born of desperation, love, and an unbreakable determination.

So what will it take to solve homelessness? What will it take to ensure that no child has to remember the backseat of a car as their home or that no parent has to ponder the unthinkable choices of survival on a park bench?

It’s not enough to acknowledge the problem. We need to delve into the root causes and attack them head-on. It’s about understanding that breaking the cycle requires change, empathy, and collective action. It’s about recognizing that low points in life can be transformed into motivation to make a difference.

As I reflect on my own journey, I realize that the question “What will it take?” is not just a plea but a challenge. A challenge to society, to governments, and to every individual who has the power to change the narrative.

What will it take? It will take courage, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of solutions that not only address the immediate needs but dig deep into the systemic issues that perpetuate homelessness.

It will take all of us, working together, acknowledging that the memories and experiences of those struggling on the streets are not distant stories but reflections of what could happen to anyone.

What will it take? It’s a question I continue to ask myself, and I challenge you to ask it too. Because the answer, in all its complexity, begins with us. It begins with the willingness to see, to act, and to believe that change is possible.