"I will walk for those who cannot" Walk with Monique, staff, residents, and fellow advocates at HomeWalk 2019

I thought I learned all there was to know about what it means for someone to be homeless. But in 2018 I was diagnosed with a blood disorder and my eyes were opened even wider to just how terrifyingly close we all are to falling into homelessness. I had family, friends, colleagues, and an incredibly talented medical team to give me the support and resources I needed to not only beat the illness, but to continue my journey to wellness. I was on medical leave for almost a year and am now back at Skid Row Housing Trust with a completely refreshed lens on, and a renewed commitment to making sure we all fulfill our role to end homelessness for good.

I realize just how fortunate I am to have such amazing support in my life and that not everyone is as lucky as I am. If I didn't have a family to help care for me and love me through that challenging time, what would have happened? I thought, if I didn't have a home, how would I have healed and would I still be alive? And if I didn't have health insurance and access to the medicine I needed, what chance would I have had to survive? For far too many people it takes just one illness, such as mine, to sideswipe them and alter the course of their lives forever. For many, that path leads to homelessness.

So I hope you will walk with me on Saturday, May 18th at the United Way HomeWalk. I will be walking for those who cannot because they are in too much pain from sleeping on our streets. I will be walking to make sure every person in Los Angeles continues to stay mission-focused until every one of our neighbors on the streets has a home. I may not be walking fast, but I will be walking strong with purpose and I hope we get to meet, get to know one another, and be a part of a movement that can only be accomplished together.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you there!

~Monique Davis
Chief Community Officer