Nightmarish existence of impoverished LA boy, 15, who is depressed and ... trends now
A Los Angeles boy has had his life thrown into chaos as he flunked out of school with depression while he is forced to take care of his baby sister.
Deneffy Sánchez, 15, who shared a twin bed with his mother, Lilian López, and three-year-old sister, Jennifer, was kicked out of their apartment by their landlady in July, sending the trio back to homelessness.
But this was not the first time this happened and to delay the inevitable, Sánchez decided to stay at the apartment and skipped school to make sure none of their belongings were thrown into the streets.
By July 1, the family had been pushed out of the apartment and struggled to find a place to live.
'It's scary that she could do that again and we couldn't do anything about it,' he said. 'I don't feel safe leaving.'
Without a father at home, Deneffy, in some ways has filled the gap. He watches Jennifer when his mom has to work and he wants a job to help pay rent. He often thinks about López dying and making him responsible for his little sister.
Jennifer already has a name for her teenage brother. She calls him Papá.
Deneffy Sánchez, 15, who shared a twin bed with his mother, Lilian López and three-year-old sister, Jennifer was kicked out of their apartment by their landlady in July, sending the trio back to homelessness
Lopez rides a bus to Beverly Hills where she cleans homes, trying to earn money as she searches for a better living situation
Troubles began when the pandemic forced the family into homelessness and Sánchez became one of the millions of students who ended up not attending classes every day.
When they do make it, untold numbers are so consumed with their troubles that they struggle to learn. Others have disappeared from school altogether.
In Los Angeles and much of California, housing insecurity has devastated children and teens´ chances at recovery like nothing else.
'Housing is the
