Campbell teen blogs about homelessness

CAMPBELL, CA (KGO) -- A teenage girl in Campbell is using her computer savvy to open people's eyes about the faces of the homeless. Why? Because she and her mom are now homeless. Her powerful words are having an impact, thanks to the kindness of strangers.

Katy Hughes is 16 and a blogger -- not unusual except for the topic. Her site is called "Destination Anywhere but Here" and here is homeless.

"I thought we were going to be in the car for awhile and I was hoping you know hope we would be safe and we don't have to move around that much because in the front seat of a car and you don't have room for your feet and stuff," said Hughes.

Sleeping in a car is one of the experiences Katy wanted people to understand. She's a teenager taking social networking to a different level.

Katy started blogging in mid-December, a few days before she and her mother were evicted from the apartment they lived for six years.

Elizabeth says in California $838 in social security benefits doesn't go far and she has been trying to find a job for the last two years.

"Basically I'll take anything right now that will pay the rent, the utilities and bills so I don't have to worry about that," said Elizabeth Hughes.

Their worries and their efforts to better the situation are finding a voice on Katy's blog and generating unexpected support.

"I know it's like a miracle I mean I got over 1,700," said Katy Hughes.

The hits really took off when Christian author Brandilyn Collins posted a story about Katy and her mom on her Web site.

People began making donations. One contribution allowed them to get out of their car and into a motel for two nights. That's where we found them -- hopeful and grateful.

"You just think this is going to go on forever, who cares, no one cares about us. It's nice to know people care," said Katy Hughes.

Katy wrote on her blog that she is one of the faces of homelessness. She hopes her computer will help tell that story and change it too.

"I really want a place to live just so we can start our lives over you know," Katy Hughes.

To learn more about Katy's blog, read The Back Story.

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