“But nobody wants to talk about it, it’s shameful,” says Agnes. “The homeless kids are the poorest of the poor. They grow up in areas without playgrounds or parks, surrounded by drugs, gangs, violence and prostitution. Compared with other children they’re more likely to be tired, hungry and sick. They feel ashamed, different and excluded. I want to help them believe in themselves and make them realise they are valuable.”

Capital of unhoused children

Los Angeles is famous for its movie stars and beautiful beaches. But it’s also the capital of the USA in regards to children experiencing homelessness. There are more unhoused people here than anywhere else. Most of them live in the Skid Row neighbourhood in Downtown LA, just a stone’s throw from the skyscrapers where banks and big companies have their offices.

How do people lose their homes?

There are many different reasons, but for children and families, it often comes down to money. One or both parents lose their jobs and can’t pay the rent. Eventually they get evicted and end up on the street. Lots of single mothers become homeless when they leave abusive partners. Some parents lose their homes because of drug addiction or because they have mental health problems. There are also thousands of teenagers living on their own on the street after having run away from home.