Tiana is seven and loves pink. Bright pink, pale pink—any shade at all. Her sneakers were a size too small, but she wore them anyway because they were pink ... and the only ones she had.
Tiana and her little sister Kiara's mom loved them but couldn’t always take care of them. She struggled with depression, anger and addiction. Some days she stayed in bed all day. Other days, the girls heard her arguing with men they didn’t know. The apartment often felt heavy and tense.
Money was always tight and sometimes there wasn’t enough food. The girls learned to stay quiet and look after each other. At night, they slept on the living room floor in sleeping bags. Their clothes were tattered and often unwashed. Even with so little, every morning, Tiana did Kiara’s hair the best she could.
After their mom was arrested, their caseworker, Chloe, brought them to CPD's Night Response Unit. They had all of their belongings in one plastic bag. That’s when Community Partners of Dallas stepped in. The girls received clothes that fit, a pair of matching Barbies, a soft pink blanket and new pink shoes for Tiana. CPD, along with their caseworker Chloe, also helped their aunt move into a larger apartment so she could take them in and the girls could have a bedroom of their own. CPD also provided beds, helped pay for soccer for Tiana, and sent Kiara to summer camp.
Today, Tiana still loves pink, and she still helps Kiara with her hair. But now they sleep in their own beds, in a room with books and stars on the ceiling – in a place that finally feels safe.
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