Ingraa is an activist, student, and filmmaker dedicated to sharing body positivity with the world and helping others feel comfortable in their skin. Her family life was, as Ingraa describes it, “dysfunctional.” So when she turned 18, she left in hopes of creating a better future for herself. She took advantage of a few workforce programs to learn skills and access housing. But says she knew she needed more in-depth help to heal the trauma she had experienced, and those programs didn’t provide that level of care.

Ingraa was referred to Larkin Street and got inspired by the support and stability Larkin Street’s staff offered. She settled into her new home and began exploring attending college again through our Larkin Street Academy programs.

Ingraa also worked on her physical and mental health with our free clinic and counseling services.

Michael’s dream is to be a social worker for at-risk youth in foster care, helping them reach their goals. He was once one of those at-risk youth, with a family background that lead to him being placed in a group home at age 12. Lacking a stable foundation, when the group home became unsafe, Michael ran away.

He lived on the streets until health issues forced him to go to a doctor, who told him about Larkin Street and our Assisted Care After Care program. ACAC offers 24-hour, onsite medical care for HIV-positive youth, in addition to our housing, mental health, education and employment programs. With housing and the support of his case manager, Michael had the foundation he needed to start a GED program, get a therapist, and start working.

He now lives in an apartment in the city and works full time and is pursuing his dream to get the credentials to become a social worker.

Rudy came to the Bay Area at 16, fleeing gang violence in his native El Salvador. He was promised a safe place to live with family, but the situation quickly became so toxic that he would rather leave. He found employment at a local auto body shop, where the owner let him live in a small office. However the new arrangement was less than perfect – without a bed or a kitchen, Rudy couldn’t focus on his work or his studies.

Eventually, Rudy shared what was happening with a teacher who referred him to Larkin Street. He now lives in one of Larkin Street’s housing programs where he gets proper sleep, food and does his homework. Since entering our programs, Rudy graduated high school with honors, enrolled in San Francisco State to pursue a career in nursing and most importantly, according to him, found his ambition.

He currently works two jobs and has an internship helping undocumented and LGBTQ-identified young people.