Johnson carries Mykeal to a quiet corner of the homeless shelter after the boy got into an argument with a friend about how to properly perform a Kung Fu move.
When 8-year-old Mykeal and his family first became homeless, they stayed in a shelter that required women and children to sleep in a separate area from the men. But that was hard on Mykeal, who had grown attached to Johnson, his mother's boyfriend. "It was pretty important for Mykeal's security and feelings to try and find some place where we could be together," Johnson says.
Quiet moments can be hard to find in the homeless shelter. Mykeal and his mother, Tara Merrill, huddle in a corner to watch The Cleveland Show before heading to bed.
A stack of apartment paperwork is the only thing that stands between Wayne Johnson and a home. He and his family have been homeless for the past two months, moving to a new shelter each week as they work to get back on their feet.
It's moving day. The Eugene Mission has provided furniture for the family's new apartment. The family has been homeless since Johnson lost his job at a Montana convenience store.
Wayne labels a bike at the Eugene Mission for Mykeal to take with to their new home.
Mykeal spins around in his new room for the first time. "I can jump and stomp around as loud as I want," he says. For the family, their new home isn't the end of their journey - it's the beginning. A housing support organization will pay a decreasing portion of their rent for the next three months while he looks for a job.
