There was an unspoken rule in Anthony’s house: always make it home before dark.

Over the years, his neighborhood had been gradually getting more dangerous. Many of the streets surrounding his family’s home were controlled by gangs. Anthony had no interest in getting involved in a gang, so he did his best to avoid the members. But there was no avoiding the sounds of gunfire that filled his neighborhood each night.

As time passed, Anthony’s mother became more uneasy about him or his brother leaving the house. More than one of Anthony’s neighbors had been a victim of the gun violence that permeated the streets. Even walking to school became a dangerous undertaking. Anthony’s mother wanted to move to a safer neighborhood, but money was tight. They just couldn’t afford it.

Anthony’s brother was tired of feeling trapped in the house. He thought that by joining a gang, he would gain a sense of protection and brotherhood. Anthony begged her not to, but nothing could change his brother’s mind. When Anthony’s mother found out what his brother had done, she kicked him out of the house.

Anthony knew he didn’t want to follow in his brother’s footsteps. But he also hated being afraid to leave the house and the way his mother had become even more overprotective. He missed his brother and began to wonder if joining a gang was really the only solution.

Anthony’s mother was terrified of losing another son to the streets. So when a friend suggested Mercy Home as a possible solution, she immediately pitched the idea to Anthony. He was so desperate to escape from his neighborhood that he immediately agreed. From the first day he moved in, Anthony enjoyed every opportunity he got to be outside. He and his advocate used to take long walks, talking about what was going on at school or with his friends. The simple feeling of safety in the neighborhood around Mercy Home made a world of difference to Anthony’s mental health.

Anthony realized that he wasn’t aware of how much the violence in his neighborhood affected him until he started talking about it with his therapist. She helped him unpack some of the trauma he experienced growing up. The other children had experiences similar to Anthony’s, and that also helped him process and heal.

The stress Anthony experienced from the neighborhood violence also affected his school work. But with the help of tutors and co-workers, he was able to learn good study habits and improve his grades. He also joined various after school programs to learn fun new skills and hobbies like chess and photography.

Mercy Home also provided support to Anthony’s family to help them with things like groceries and mental health services. They hope to be able to move to a safer neighborhood soon.

Too many of our children don’t feel safe doing simple things like playing outside or walking to school. That is why I am so grateful for your prayerful support of our children. You are part of providing them with a safe place to call home. Thank you!

Please note: Because we care deeply about protecting our children’s privacy, the names and certain identifying details in this story have been changed.