NEWS
Embracing New Beginnings: Essential New Year Tips for Youth Facing Housing Challenges
"Discover essential New Year tips and supportive resources for youth and young adults navigating housing insecurity or homelessness. Daybreak is committed to providing a helping hand as you step into 2024 with renewed hope." As the New Year unfolds, it brings with it an opportunity for fresh starts and new beginnings, especially for youth and young adults grappling with housing insecurity or homelessness. Daybreak Dayton is dedicated to guiding you [...]
Celebrating Kwanzaa: A Beacon of Hope for Dayton’s Homeless Community
Happy Kwanzaa from our family at Daybreak! In the heart of winter, when the festive spirit envelops Ohio, Kwanzaa emerges as a celebration not just of African-American heritage, but also of community values and hope. Particularly in Dayton, Ohio, this cultural festival transcends mere celebration, touching the lives of many, including those without homes. Understanding Kwanzaa Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, is more than a holiday. It's [...]
NEWSLETTERS
Daybreak Donor Stories – Shawn Elrod (Landlord)
Daybreak Landlord, Shawn Elrod, Makes A Big Impact On The Lives of Homeless Youth “Having my own children made me more empathetic and made me want to help.” Imagine your daily sleeping arrangement rotating from a friend’s couch to an unlocked car, to a parking garage. You can’t remember the last time you had a home or a bed. You forget what it feels like to live [...]
Robert Vysther, Daybreak’s Longest Consecutive Year Donor: 27 years and counting.
Robert Vysther—Daybreak’s Longest Consecutive Year Donor---27 years and counting. “I had an opportunity to help and I did,” says Robert Vysther. It seems like a simple statement, but what some may not know is Robert has made a tremendous impact on homeless youth for twenty-seven years! Robert is Daybreak’s longest consecutive year donor. Naturally, we wanted to get to know Robert and learn why he cares so much [...]
VIDEOS
Nora Vondrell on Advocacy and Retold Stories with Daybreak
I have with me Nora Vondrell today. How long have you been involved with Daybreak and how did you get connected with us? My bachelor’s degree is in social work. I'm a Wright State University grad, and my first job out of college was working for Montgomery County Children Services. I had a client at Daybreak and got to know Daybreak through her. https://youtu.be/8B9_eNQRdcQ It was while I was [...]
Daybreak’s Courtney Smith on Putting Yourself First with Kindness
Courtney, tell us what was the moment of instability that first brought you to Daybreak? The moment of instability that got me into Daybreak was that I was living with my sister. I really didn't have any aspirations to do anything in my life. I didn't graduate from high school on time because I had to pass my OGT science and I didn't know where to get help to even [...]
YOUTH STORIES
Daybreak’s Justin Davis on Safety and Support
Daybreak's Custodian, Justin Davis Please enjoy this interview with Justin Davis, a current Daybreak custodian and former youth from our program. He shares his story, how he built stability in his life, and the safety and support he found at Daybreak. https://youtu.be/wxZ-xd8ILSA Welcome, Justin! What are your preferred pronouns? He/him. So, you're a past client of Daybreak’s, right? Could you tell us what brought you to Daybreak? What was [...]
Daybreak Changed My Life
There is an old saying that goes: “What doesn’t kill you, will only make you stronger…” So just call me Hercules. In my 19 years of life’s experiences, I have endured more obstacles than the average person has in an entire lifetime. My life first took a drastic change at the age of 9, when I entered the foster care system. I remember my initial reaction as being one [...]
YOUTH POEMS
Daybreak is My Friend
It all started when I got kicked out of my first apartment now I homeless and I have to sit down and think about it, falling down a hill that already started. Now I’m scared because I have nothing to eat, my body weight is starting to decrease and that don’t even fit me. Now I walkin’ around lookin’ at the shoes on my feet… I still got one [...]
Thank You Daybreak
I just want to say thank you for all the things you helped me through Through all the stress, depression and all of the other stuff I’ve been through To say ‘Lonnie keep your head up’ and holding it for me And not letting go and pushing me ‘cause y’all was there for me Let me sit and think for a minute Daybreak was there for me when I [...]