In the bustling city of Los Angeles, a somber and challenging situation unfolded during the summer months.
Deneffy Sánchez, a young individual on the cusp of entering the tenth grade, found himself facing a daunting predicament.
Having failed his ninth grade classes due to overwhelming depression, Deneffy had hoped to utilize the summer break to catch up on his studies.
However, circumstances dictated otherwise, and he was forced to prioritize more pressing matters. In the month of June, the fifteen-year-old found himself confined to the modest confines of a twin bed, which he shared with his mother and younger sister.
Their living situation had recently taken an unexpected turn, as a stranger had become their new roommate.
This individual, Fabiola Del Castillo, expressed regret and discontentment about having to reside with Deneffy’s family, voicing her dissatisfaction in Spanish during an interview with a reporter.
Standing alongside Fabiola in their cramped living space, Deneffy’s mother, Lilian López, silently absorbed the weight of their shared struggles, as the room served as both their dining area and sleeping quarters.
Del Castillo’s words were delivered with a firmness that left no room for negotiation. As he turned to López, his tone remained resolute, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The significance of Saturday being the first day was not lost on either of them, for it marked the beginning of a new chapter, a fresh start that required prompt action.
Del Castillo’s directive to leave by then was not merely a suggestion, but a command that demanded immediate attention. The weight of his words hung in the air, causing López to pause and reflect on the gravity of the situation.
It was clear that time was of the essence, and any delay in departure would be met with severe consequences.
With a sense of determination, López understood that he had no choice but to comply with Del Castillo’s instructions and make the necessary preparations to leave by Saturday.
The task ahead seemed daunting, but López knew that he had to muster all his strength and resolve to meet the deadline.
The days leading up to Saturday would be filled with a flurry of activity, as López meticulously planned his departure, leaving no room for error.
The importance of this moment was not lost on him, as he realized that his future hinged on his ability to execute the necessary steps in a timely manner.
Del Castillo’s words echoed in his mind, serving as a constant reminder of the impending deadline. With each passing day, the pressure intensified, but López remained focused and determined to meet the challenge head-on.
The countdown to Saturday had begun, and with it came a sense of both excitement and trepidation. The first day of a new chapter was fast approaching, and López knew that he had to seize this opportunity and embark on a journey that held the promise of a brighter future.
As Saturday loomed just three days away, Deneffy found himself acutely aware of the ticking clock that seemed to dictate the future of his apartment.
The urgency of the situation weighed heavily on his shoulders, as he knew that time was running out and he had to take swift action to secure his living situation.
However, Deneffy was not alone in facing this daunting challenge. The pandemic-induced closure of classrooms had left many older students, like himself, struggling to keep up with their studies and falling behind in their academic pursuits.
The relentless march of time had not paused for Deneffy or his peers, leaving them grappling with the consequences of a disrupted education.
The pressure to catch up and find a solution to his housing predicament was further intensified by the knowledge that he was not the only one facing such hardships.
The clock continued to tick, reminding him of the urgency to save his apartment and reclaim a sense of stability in these uncertain times.
As high school draws to a close, the alarming reality is that a significant number of students are failing to attend classes on a regular basis.
Even when they do manage to make it to school, countless individuals are so overwhelmed by their personal struggles that their ability to learn becomes severely compromised.
In some cases, students have completely disappeared from the educational system, leaving behind a void that is difficult to fill.
The unique circumstances of each community have played a role in undermining the aspirations of young people during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, and in Los Angeles and much of California, the issue of housing insecurity has emerged as the primary culprit.
The devastating impact of housing insecurity on children and teenagers in Los Angeles cannot be overstated.
Elmer Roldan, the executive director of Communities in Schools of Los Angeles, an organization dedicated to assisting numerous schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District, acknowledges that housing instability is the main reason why students are not attending school or are simply untraceable.
Startling statistics provided by the district reveal that last year, a staggering two out of every five students within the Los Angeles Unified School District missed more than 10% of the academic year.
The situation becomes even more dire when one considers the fact that, by April, the district had lost track of over 2,500 students.
These are individuals who quietly ceased attending school and seemingly vanished without enrolling elsewhere, according to preliminary data available on the district’s website.
The implications of such a significant number of missing students are deeply troubling and demand immediate attention.
The educational landscape has been forever altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and its repercussions are being felt acutely in communities across the nation.
However, the situation in Los Angeles and California, in general, is particularly dire due to the pervasive issue of housing insecurity.
It is imperative that concerted efforts be made to address this crisis in order to safeguard the educational opportunities and future prospects of the affected students.
Without swift action and effective intervention, the dreams and aspirations of an entire generation may be irreparably shattered.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on countless individuals, and Deneffy’s story is just one example of the many vulnerable teens who have been affected.
The reasons for this impact are varied and, in some cases, entirely unknown. Prior to the pandemic, Deneffy had a relatively normal life.
Although he didn’t particularly enjoy school, he rarely missed it. He spent his free time playing sports with friends or training with the police department’s youth cadet program, which was his mother’s dream for him.
However, since the pandemic began, Deneffy’s life has been turned upside down. While other teenagers were enjoying their summer, Deneffy was stuck inside, struggling with a difficult roommate and trying to cope with the many challenges brought on by the pandemic.
It’s clear that the pandemic has had a profound impact on Deneffy’s life, and the lives of many other vulnerable teens like him.
During the day when a reporter ventured into his abode, he was found reclining in his bed, enveloped by a cozy blanket adorned with the visage of Queen Elsa from the popular animated film “Frozen,” which was affixed to the wall behind him.
Ostensibly engrossed in his mobile device, he surreptitiously recorded Del Castillo, harboring the notion that his family might require this evidence at some future juncture.
Mere feet away, his mother, a diminutive woman of 47 years who had immigrated from Guatemala two decades and two years prior, stood composed, her three-year-old daughter positioned at her knee.
“But I paid the full rent for June since you lacked the funds. Moreover, you assured me that you would cover July,” she voiced in her native Spanish.
López had furnished Del Castillo with money orders totaling an aggregate of $1,240, albeit harboring doubts as to whether the landlords demanded such a substantial sum for the decrepit 450-square-foot apartment.
“Yes,” Del Castillo conceded, acknowledging the fact that López had indeed settled the dues for both June and July. “However, how can I accommodate you for two whole months? It is simply unfeasible.”
Returning her attention to the reporter, Del Castillo proceeded, her voice trembling with emotion: “They deprive me of sleep.
Their cacophonous clamor and incessant snoring render tranquility an elusive concept.” Overwhelmed by her circumstances, she succumbed to tears.
The majority of students classified as “homeless” by the government actually have a place to sleep, albeit an unstable one often shared with roommates, according to federal statistics.
In Los Angeles alone, over 13,000 students are considered homeless, with 2,000 of them residing in shelters, as reported by the city’s superintendent last spring.
One individual, López, shares her experience of being assaulted while staying in a shelter after being evicted three years ago.
This traumatic incident has fueled her determination to find stable housing for her family. However, the scarcity of affordable housing in Los Angeles has created an opportunity for those with apartment leases to exploit individuals like López, who lack the financial resources, references, and knowledge to secure their own place. These vulnerable individuals are desperate to avoid shelters at all costs.
Deneffy, López’s teenage son, has taken on a significant role in the absence of his father. He not only looks after his younger sister, Jennifer, when their mother is working but also feels the pressure of potentially becoming responsible for her if something were to happen to López.
This added responsibility, combined with the instability of their living situation, has had a profound impact on Deneffy’s ability to focus on his education.
Studies have shown that students who assume parental roles often struggle to stay in school. According to a report from Communities in Schools and MDRC, 35% of student dropouts since the pandemic can be attributed to family responsibilities or financial obligations.
Deneffy himself began shouldering adult responsibilities just as he lost control over his home and school life. He became homeless shortly after his mother gave birth to Jennifer in September 2020.
During this period, when school shifted online, Deneffy found it increasingly difficult to engage and feel supported. Attending seventh grade Zoom classes from a chaotic shelter, he felt judged by his classmates, making it impossible to concentrate.
As a result, seventh grade was a complete academic and social loss for him. He withdrew from his friends, classmates, and teachers, unwilling to explain his living situation.
The consequences of this isolation caught up with Deneffy in ninth grade, as classes became more challenging. He lacked home internet, making it difficult to complete homework, and when tests were administered, he often resorted to guessing the answers.
Recognizing his declining grades, his school offered him homework assistance, which he appreciated. However, what he truly desired was access to a therapist.
Deneffy reached out to his school’s “psychiatric social worker” during his ninth-grade year, expressing his need for professional mental health counseling.
Unfortunately, the demand for such services has skyrocketed, with 42% of high school students surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control in 2021 reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness, compared to 28% a decade earlier.
Instead of providing him with his own therapist, the social worker occasionally pulled him out of study hall for brief “check-ins.” Although these interactions offered temporary relief, Deneffy’s stress levels remained consistently high.
As time passed, the stress continued to accumulate. The narrative abruptly ends, leaving us with the mention of another family sharing an apartment with Deneffy’s family, indicating that their story is far from over.
The challenges faced by Deneffy and his family, along with the broader issue of student homelessness, highlight the urgent need for comprehensive support systems and resources to ensure that all students have equal access to education and mental health care.