"The earth is what raised me, the earth is my home."

Poverty. A word we often times push to the side to get on with our busy days. The fact is, nearly 50 million Americans are currently effected by this _____________. Poverty doesn't just effect the middle age or older.. it effects children as well.

16 years ago a 13-year-old girl by the name of Heather, became homeless when her father left home and her mother kicked Heather and her 15-year-old pregnant sister out of the house and onto the streets of San Fransisco, Calif.

From there Heather began her journey. A journey that would lead her through a life of drugs, alcohol and from one broken home to the next.

Through all the years and all the miles traveled Heather managed to hold on to these two tour flags (Led Zeppelin on the left and Pink Floyd on the right.)

Heather walked me around downtown Oklahoma City and showed me where she and her husband "lived" when they arrived off the Greyhound from Dallas, Texas. This is her first trip back to the city since leaving 8 months ago.

Heather showed me where she would go during the day. She used to walk by this waterfall when she needed to relax.

Just before the sun would set, Heather and her husband would come to this garden and sit. "I pretend to be tough to maintain my street reputation," Heather joked, "but at heart I am a softy for anything nature. The earth is what raised me, the earth is my home."

"My husband and I walked this very alley right after arriving in the city. We had no where to go."

When this house was abandon, Heather and her husband slept on the porch. She recalls the windows being boarded up and this being the only protection from the weather.

Sleep was a good thing to do during the day so that they were not mugged. Heather said they would sleep on these large rocks spread throughout downtown Oklahoma City's park.

Heather's favorite thing to look at was a large metal bird that lit up in the evenings and changed colors.

On the way to the city, Heather mentioned how she wished her family, 3 children, was closer to her. She plans to have them for Christmas once moved into her new apartment.

Heather got emotional walking through the Greyhound station and thinking about how far she has come since this time in her life.

Her whole life Heather has felt like she has been bypassed. I felt this was a great way to illustrate her feelings.

Heather heard about Mission of Hope in Stillwater, Okla. and wasted no time getting to the shelter to start her recovery.

Heather sat in the "community room" at the shelter and told me about her experiences and how she has gotten this far.

This is Heather's transitional room which she will soon be moving out of. The room she stays in offers a bunk bed, a private full-bathroom and a full size bed. The TV's and other things in the room have all been donated and Heather is able to take it to her new apartment.

Heather saw this on the stairs in downtown Oklahoma City and said "that is so true, I wish everyone had this mentality."