Semaj Algere never imagined she’d experience homelessness at 23. In 2024, after periods of sleeping in her car and cycling through unstable living situations, she decided to seek help. A call to the 211 helpline, which connects people with resources for needs like housing, food, healthcare, and mental health support, led her to the Grove, a transitional-housing community serving 18- to 24-year-olds in Sacramento, California. She wanted lasting change, she says, starting with a stable place to stay and resources for finding long-term housing and resuming her education.
