One homeless story
A mother tries to find shelter for her son
Courtney Duren-Hill massages her forehead as she tries to find money in her wallet for another night at the Americas Best Value Inn on 16th Street in Sacramento.
Devang Kunsaru, the front desk clerk at Americas Best Value Inn on 16th Street in Sacramento gives Duren-Hill a new key card for another night at the motel.
Duren-Hill waits for a response after posting to a Facebook group called “Is this a Depression Meal?” that allows people to seek money to buy meals. Finished with the previous night’s leftovers, her son Gavin lies on the bed.
After eating breakfast at 16th Street Donuts, Gavin Hill runs in front of his mother as they head back to their motel room to pack up and move from their latest temporary home.
After leaving the motel, Duren-Hill and son Gavin shop for clothes at the Salvation Army Family Store & Donation Center in downtown Sacramento.
Courteney Duren-Hill grew up in what she calls a toxic living situation. At 17, she decided the only way to resolve it was to run away. Since then, she has been on and off the streets of Sacramento. At 19, she became pregnant.
Now 26, Duren-Hill reads palms and panhandles online to get by. Whenever money runs out, she and her 6-year-old son Gavin pack up and try to find ways to afford a new place. About a year ago, she was attending American River College and living in a mobile home, but couldn’t afford the rent. She received federal aid, but recently lost it when she wasn’t able to afford transportation. In the beginning of January, they stayed at a motel on 16th Street in Sacramento. After a few days there, they had to move to a new motel and have since relocated several times.
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