Liam seeks shelter, stability, legal resources

Resident finds hope after years of parental abuse and unstable housing

When Liam walked into a Longview homeless shelter at 17, he was immediately greeted by a Christian rap song that sang “f— the rainbow” during chapel. He left the same day after staff made it clear that they were not interested in supporting his well-being as a visibly queer man experiencing homelessness.

21-year-old Liam came to Dallas Hope Charities while fighting legal charges instigated by his mother, apartment eviction, and challenges faced within other shelters.

“I never had a chance where I [felt] like I was protected by anybody or [that] I had a fair chance to just be normal.”

The first parental attack was in middle school during the holiday season. A girl put lip gloss on Liam while riding the bus but when he got home, a verbal fight with his mother escalated into a physical altercation. She attacked and choked her son while his siblings called 911. To the police, Liam’s self-defense was reported as fighting back. His mother pressed charges and Liam was put on probation.

“I never had a chance where I feel like I was protected by anybody or [that] I had a fair chance to just be normal,” Liam said. ”I’ve never been in contact with the law. I haven’t been a thief. I don’t sell drugs… They already try to paint black men [as] thugs and hood… So I’m thinking my life can be so much different if my mom wasn’t doing what she did.”

Liam was kicked out of his home at 15 years old. When a community member called CPS on his mother, she cried and told authorities that Liam had made up the entire story. His mother’s distrust and deception contributed towards a pattern of child abuse and involvement with the law throughout Liam’s teenage years.

“One time when I was in 7th grade, I had three boys that run and attack me basically, hitting me and stuff.” Liam said. “I told [my mother] about that and I brought it up again. She said ‘My son, why you didn’t tell us? We would have came.’ I did tell her. And you know what she said? “Well, stop acting, walking and talking like that then.’”

Liam describes his mannerisms and way of speech as an involuntary indication of his queerness. His mother and church members prayed over Liam to be more “normal” but his self-expression or presentation isn’t a choice. Liam came out as gay in his early teenage years. He was bullied in school by peers and misunderstood by teachers. His sisters also dealt with parental altercations at home but Liam was the only one to receive legal action.

“They said I was spoiled,” Liam said. “Maybe I was a little spoiled, [but] when I came out as queer and [ my mother ] had seen who I was, I don’t feel like I was that much spoiled anymore. I feel like I was attacked all the time, honestly.”

Liam’s first apartment was a contrast from the crowded, overly-decorated East Texas home he grew up in. The resident found a program through Community Health Court that covered his rent and utilities for a year. And for the first time in his life, Liam’s home was quiet.

“I just focused on myself and healing and stuff like that,” Liam said. “But when I started doing that, every time when I started to go to sleep, I always saw me and my mom fighting and going back to that trailer.”

Liam’s mother made it a habit to walk into his room unprovoked and start fights. She did the same thing with Liam’s father.

“Sometimes I’ll wake up feeling sad and stuff like that. And I didn’t realize what PTSD was, and I think I had PTSD from all that crap. I would have nightmares of it going to sleep.”

Liam was evicted from the apartment and moved into the Dallas Hope Center. DHC supported Liam with legal resources as he managed all the charges from his mother. He described moving into the residence on the first day as feeling like a sigh of relief.

“I couldn’t foresee coming here but it turned out to be a great opportunity.”

“It feels different and it’s inspiring,” Liam said. “You have opportunities to better yourself. You don’t have to worry about stressing about paying a light bill, paying a rent… it’s really motivating to me. And I’m just glad they have it to change our lives.”

During his time at DHC, Liam took up volunteering opportunities, attended therapy, and got more information about handling his warrant. Liam has worked on forgiveness towards his mother but her actions continue to hinder his opportunities to get a job, complete high school and obtain a driver’s license.

“[My mother] doesn’t take accountability, and that’s what makes me mad,” Liam said. “It ignites it all over again. It’s like reliving it… but I feel like life take[s] care of the people. If you are a good person, I feel like you will win in the end. You will have blessings and miracles coming to your life that would help you progress and I feel like that’s why I get opportunities.”

Liam found DHC while searching online for LGBTQIA+ affirming shelters. The Dallas Hope Center provides an allowance for groceries, covers rent, and connects residents with life skills classes among other resources.

“I feel like the higher power won’t [give you more] than what you can bear so just stick strong and you will learn a lesson coming from that,” Liam said. “We don’t understand it sometimes in the moment, because I didn’t. I couldn’t foresee coming here but it turned out to be a great opportunity… When I look back at what I was going through, it’s really a blessing in disguise.”

Liam cares about giving back and one of his goals is to continue volunteering even after moving out of the shelter.

“Maybe one of us might take a pattern of footsteps and start our own organization and want to do something like that,” Liam said. “And then we might end up collaborating in the future. You never know how far you can go or who you’re mentoring and who you’re helping or what you’re inspiring them to do because I really feel like this is a really great place and it is inspiring.”