A Place Called Home

This memoir of the author’s life on the streets, living with a mentally ill mother and his two siblings, is unflinching and harrowing but filled with moments of grace, alternating between hope and despair (though for most of it, despair has the upper hand).

Ambroz is unsparing in recounting events, but he’s never self-pitying or sensationalistic. He shines a light on the plight of the unhoused, especially children—but always with the purpose of creating empathy and action—a real eye-opener.

A Place Called Home is a glimpse into the world of homelessness, mental illness, and hunger.

It is almost unbelievable that a person could grow up in the circumstances Mr. Ambroz did, often hungry, taking care of his mother and siblings, scrounging for food, and being shuffled from one foster home after another. I found myself pulling for his survival every inch of the way. That Mr. Ambrose could grow up in such circumstances and still become a productive member of society inspires hope.

The book is a window into the plight of families who experience mental illness and homelessness… show more.