Theo was born without a home. For nearly three years, Theo and his mother Leah have been staying in tents or in cheap motels in Berkeley, California. He dreams of having a home one day where he can "bake chocolate cakes in an oven" and run around the house with a dog.
In 2019 Berkeley’s official homeless count showed no families with children that were unsheltered in the city. But Berkeley officials know well that Theo bounces between the city’s streets and hotels with his mother. Berkeley says they have tried several times to help the two find stable housing, without success.
Children like Theo face further troubles as they age, studies show. They have higher levels of emotional, behavioral and health problems, and are more likely to become homeless as adults.