WCPO/Channel 9: KEYS Program is Reducing Youth Homelessness in Hamilton County
JUNE 18, 2021 — Rodney Walker was 22 and facing homelessness for the second time in his young life.
He couldn’t stay with his mom in her small apartment any longer, but he didn’t have enough money to get a place of his own. He made some calls and moved to City Gospel Mission’s homeless shelter 10 days before Christmas in 2019.
“That’s the lowest I’ve ever been,” said Walker, who is now 23. “I thought about it for a second, and I said, you know, I’m very independent. And I am independently bringing myself to a homeless shelter so I feel like I could get a lot of help.”
That is exactly what happened.