Hope for the Homeless

Golden batter hits the sizzling pan and melts onto the buttery surface in a perfect circle shape. Nearby a stack of paper plates await to be piled high with pancakes and sweet syrups. Welcome to the pancake feed, hosted by Hastings High’s brightest of sophomores: the sophomore leadership class.

By flipping and serving hundreds of pancakes, the sophomore leadership class was able to raise $386 for a community-based organization, the Maryland Living Center, or MLC. Not only is MLC home to countless homeless and aged-out youth from the foster care system, it affects the members of our community, right here in Hastings.

“I was homeless. My [adopted] mom has a position here and she suggested it to me. Within a couple of weeks after filling out the application I was moved in,” MLC resident of seven months, Latifah R(1) said.

Latifah, now 20 years old, started out in foster care at the mere age of one. She went through more than five different foster families in her eleven years in the foster system, the ever changing lifestyle finally ending when she was adopted in 2007.

Latifah’s adoptive mom has two children of her own as well as four she adopted, including Latifah’s half-sister, whom Latifah thinks of as her best friend.

“I love my adopted family. It’s a big family,” Latifah said.

MLC’s goal is to provide their residents with lifelong skills learned at the center, and ultimately help them into their own independent living within 12-18 months.

“I set up our life skills program, where we provide life skills classes for our residents. Our life skills assessment, the Daily Memorial Life Skills Assessment, tests sixteen different life skills such as money management, health, legal skills, and job seeking skills. We do that to get an idea of where our residents are at, and what we need to work on while they are here,” Volunteer Levi Stagner said.

MLC’s primary focus is finding jobs for all of the residents.

“They require you to work or do volunteer hours. I do both. I work at Valentino’s and will eventually volunteer at Start Over Rover in Hastings,” Latifah said.

Latifah is currently on maternity leave after having given birth to her one-month-old daughter, Nya.

“Before I came here I was really going through a rough patch, being homeless, and drug use, and in a domestic violence relationship. Coming out of all that and then transitioning into living by myself and having [Nya] all by myself, that’s definitely been my biggest challenge,” Latifah said.

Latifah opens up about her drug use, a dark time lasting about nine months.

“I wasn’t in contact with anyone who was good for me. I got back in contact with people who love me,” Latifah said.

Many community members and students are not aware of this local organization and what it provides for the people living right next to us: the girl you recognize from school, the teenage boy from the grocery store, maybe even someone you know. The sophomores were very humbled by their fundraising experience.

“I think the cause is worthy because it is supporting local youth that really need someone to help them, and helping them transition into a self-sustaining life. It is important to our community because these are the youth who can become wonderful and successful members of society but need a little help before they can do that. I also find it cool that we are youth supporting fellow youth in Hastings,” Oliver Dunbar said.

Some families in our school even foster kids in need themselves. Junior Dylan Miller’s family is currently fostering three children(2), all children in the family living busy, active lives.

“At first I didn’t really see them and they didn’t really see me. The youngest one, me and him, just mess around. I tell him goodnight everyday,” Miller said.

Miller is inspired by his parent’s actions and wants to continue to help youth by becoming a foster parent himself one day.

Others, like volunteer Stagner, also feel inspired on a daily basis.

“I just wanted to help at some sort of capacity. It’s a rewarding position,” Stagner said.

When Latifah’s time at the living center is up, she hopes to move into an apartment of her own and go back to school to study animal science. Her dream job is to work at a zoo.

Latifah encourages any young person who is lost and without a home to look into MLC.

“It is a great program and you won’t regret it. It is very important to your future. Take advantage of it,” Latifah said.

(1) Due to the confidentiality policy at MLC Latifah’s last name will be kept anonymous.  

(2) For the safety of the three kids under Miller’s care the names will be kept anonymous.