From Homeless to Hope: A 12 on 12 Digital Original

Mike Montecalvo spent the day with Providence Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez, who shared his emotional journey.

12 on 12 Digital Originals from WPRI 12 | WPRI.com

[marthawashington]

Every RI Elected Official needs to step up and put as much effort into resolving child homelessness as this man is. Today there are probably 80% more homeless children trying to follow in this Humble Man's footsteps, than there was in the 1980's. Although his story is inspirational, it does not represent the majority of all the children who were left behind, forgotten and did not make it. I can speak for those who I knew personally who found suicide the only solution, after being abandoned by their parents who could not or choose not to provide them shelter.. I was one of those abandon kids with no where to call home too. What is disgusting is with all the money RI has received since 2020 we should have no homeless children. However, there are more today than ever before. No real solutions have been presented in this State to truly create affordable housing, just look at the prices of rent, What is being done to create rent controlled housing. We have good people, like this superintendent doing their best to make a difference but if RI Elected Officials do not make housing their number 1 priority, nothing will change. Why not create Supervised Housing units where homeless teens could check in to sleep for one night, one month or a year if needed. No questions asked and no threat of DCYF involvement; just a room with a bed, a safe place to sleep and study. In the 1980's to 1990, the DCYF failed more children than it helped, any kid on the street who ever ended up in DCYF care knows this and ended up worse for it.
I do not see that DCYF placement is any safer today than what it was then. There are no available affordable housing units in this State, the waiting list is greater than 4 years. Teens are abandoned in greater numbers than ever before. Something needs to be done and now is the time.
I hope this request and call to action is herd.

[nancywilson]

I'M SO HAPPY FOR HIM FOR TURNING HIS LIFE AROUND IN A MAJOR WAY! I USED TO BE HOMELESS BACK IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND IN 2020 AND 2021 BECAUSE, I COULD NOT FIND AN APARTMENT AT ALL DUE TO EVICTION! I HAVE A NICE ONE BEDROOM APT.NOW IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS.I CAN COOK HOT MEALS ANYTIME I WANT NOW.OH! I GRADUATED FROM HOPE HIGH SCHOOL IN 1988:😃😀😄😝😝☺😉😉😍😁😁😁😝☺☺😉😊😄😀😀😀😜

[wickedproductions]

This guy is epic I love superintendent montanez Back in April when NGMS was having some troubles with kids he was there taking care of everyone and make us kids feel safe.