A Car For A Home: My Uncle's Story of Resilience

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At 22 years old my uncle’s world crumbled. At the time he and his 13-year-old brother had been living with their aunt. Their mother was in Mexico and they had never met their dad. Imagine having only one person as your support and then suddenly losing it all. Their aunt had kicked them out of their home and they had nowhere else to go. With no family support or resources, they ended up having to live in my uncle's car — a beat-up sedan that was their only source of safety.

Life was tough for both of them, but it was more so for my uncle’s brother who had a disability and depended on my uncle for almost everything. The car was more than just a shelter; it was where my uncle took the dual role of a caregiver and guardian.

At night they would park the car in quiet areas, hoping to stay out of sight. My uncle would let his brother sleep in the back seat so he'd have a little more room to lie down but the tight space made it difficult to feel comfortable. Meanwhile, my uncle stayed in the front seat barely getting any sleep some days because of the constant worry for their safety and the thought of how he could meet his brother's needs.

During the day they would wash up in public restrooms, seek warmth in libraries, and try to maintain some normal routine. My uncle tried his best to give hope to his brother and to cheer him up. Making sure they had food, that they were both clean, and providing his brother with medications was a daily battle.

Despite everything, my uncle refused to give up. He found a part-time job, putting in long hours to save up whatever he could. Eventually, with the help of a local support program, they managed to move out of the car and into temporary housing. 

At his new job, he met my aunt and they later got married. Once they had gotten married I had the pleasure of having two new uncles. With her love and support, they built a life together, and she welcomed his brother as part of the family.

My uncle's story is a reminder that homelessness can happen to anyone but there are people who care about you and resources that can help. One resource that could help is Rent Well and if you've been evicted before or are a first-time renter, etc. this program could help you gain insight on renting.


Attention: The Portland State University senior capstone for multimedia would love to hear from you. If you have the time, please click here to fill out a survey about your experience with housing.

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