A California high school student appeared on the streets of Salt Lake City after being abandoned by his only parent—his mother—when he turned 18. The teenager sadly had to celebrate his birthday trying to find shelter or a way back home.
The TikTok page titled HomesForHomeless shared video footage of an unidentified teenage boy who spoke about his homelessness during an interview. The boy revealed that his mother basically told him he was on his own the moment he turned 18.
The teenager looked sullen and sad as he relayed his heartbreaking story of desertion by the only parent and family he knew. He didn’t have a choice in the matter, so he was in Salt Lake City, Utah, trying to find a place to stay for the night.
A California high school student talks about being abandoned by his mother on June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
If that didn’t work out, the teenager hoped to find his way back home to California. The boy was asked if he was saying he was stranded in a foreign state; the student agreed. When asked how long he had been on the streets, he said:
“This is my first day. Today’s my 18th birthday.”
The sad look in his eyes, as he relayed how he celebrated his 18th birthday trying to fend for himself, was heartbreaking, to say the least. As he explained his story, he looked scared, abandoned, and close to tears.
A California high school student talks about being abandoned by his mother on June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
The interviewer asked the high school student if he knew where to go, how to get back home, or if he had any goals now that he was alone. He revealed that his “main goal” was to get back to California with the hope of finishing high school.
A California high school student talks about being abandoned by his mother on June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
Asked to share his three wishes, he said he hoped his father was still alive, to see his sisters, and to get back home. The abandoned boy appeared bewildered carrying a big backpack with only the belongings he left home with.
Someone else figured the teenager’s mother must be a “real piece of work.”
How TikTok Users Reacted to the Teen’s Story
Most TikTok users who saw the boy’s story were quite upset on his behalf. Others were heartbroken for him; one person replied to the post by noting how “scared” the 18-year-old looked in the clip.
Screenshot of a comment on the boy’s story dated June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
Someone else added a sad emoticon and confessed that they could not imagine abandoning their child like that. Another person shared how sad they felt for the teenager and that they could see the “sadness in his eyes,” and that some people shouldn’t be allowed to be parents. Someone else added:
“The pain in his eyes is just insane.”
Screenshot of a comment on the boy’s story dated June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
Screenshot of a comment on the boy’s story dated June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
The social media user hoped the boy succeeds in life and shows his mother that he didn’t need her. Someone else slammed the boy’s mother for abandoning her child.
Screenshot of a comment on the boy’s story dated June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
Screenshot of a comment on the boy’s story dated June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
The same person shared how her daughters would always have a roof over their heads as long as she was still breathing. Extending love and well wishes to the 18-year-old, she prayed to God to protect the homeless boy.
Screenshot of a comment on the boy’s story dated June 30, 2023. | Source: TikTok/homesforhomeless
Someone else figured the teenager’s mother must be a “real piece of work” to have placed that “good young man” on the street. The social media user also extended their prayers for the abandoned son.
