» 2017 Andrea Cornejo – “From Homelessness to Motherhood”

<script src="/jbcore/juicebox.js"></script><script>new juicebox({baseURL: '/2017_Winners/Cornejo/Homeless_Motherhood/',containerId: "juicebox-container",galleryWidth: "100%",galleryHeight: "100%",backgroundColor: "#222222"});</script><div id="juicebox-container"><noscript><h1></h1><p></p><p><img src="images/707-BEYOND_GRACE1.jpg" title="" alt="Adam Nick gives Racheal Morrison a kiss on the forehead during her first ultrasound at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., June 30, 2016. Despite being on her third trimester of her pregnancy, it was her first visit to the doctors since losing her first child to a drug problem nearly two years ago. Although Nick is not the biological father, the 22-year-old plans on helping raise the baby." /><br> Adam Nick gives Racheal Morrison a kiss on the forehead during her first ultrasound at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., June 30, 2016. Despite being on her third trimester of her pregnancy, it was her first visit to the doctors since losing her first child to a drug problem nearly two years ago. Although Nick is not the biological father, the 22-year-old plans on helping raise the baby.</p><p><img src="images/708-BEYOND_GRACE3.jpg" title="" alt="Racheal waits for her clothes to dry at the laundry room at GRACE Marketplace in Gainesville, Fla., June 26, 2016. After leaving her abusive parents and hopping from foster home to foster home in Michigan, she was left to fend for herself at age 16. For the next several years, she suffered from a drug addiction and eventually ended up at the homeless shelter." /><br> Racheal waits for her clothes to dry at the laundry room at GRACE Marketplace in Gainesville, Fla., June 26, 2016. After leaving her abusive parents and hopping from foster home to foster home in Michigan, she was left to fend for herself at age 16. For the next several years, she suffered from a drug addiction and eventually ended up at the homeless shelter.</p><p><img src="images/709-BEYOND_GRACE2.jpg" title="" alt=""We need to sell something to make money for cigarettes," Adam says, as he tries to light up a cigarette butt. Both jobless, the pair sleep on lawn chairs underneath a pavilion with 60 other residents residing at the homeless shelter. Despite the health risks involved with smoking during pregnancy, Racheal smokes almost half a pack a day." /><br> "We need to sell something to make money for cigarettes," Adam says, as he tries to light up a cigarette butt. Both jobless, the pair sleep on lawn chairs underneath a pavilion with 60 other residents residing at the homeless shelter. Despite the health risks involved with smoking during pregnancy, Racheal smokes almost half a pack a day.</p><p><img src="images/710-BEYOND_GRACE4.jpg" title="" alt="With her due date coming up and GRACE Marketplace's inability to accept children at their facility, Racheal talks to a Department of Children and Families caseworker about finding traditional housing, Gainesville, Fla., June 15, 2016. "I have called GRACE home for the past two years and now they are kicking me out because I'm pregnant," she said." /><br> With her due date coming up and GRACE Marketplace's inability to accept children at their facility, Racheal talks to a Department of Children and Families caseworker about finding traditional housing, Gainesville, Fla., June 15, 2016. "I have called GRACE home for the past two years and now they are kicking me out because I'm pregnant," she said.</p><p><img src="images/711-BEYOND_GRACE5.jpg" title="" alt="Racheal talks to Frankie Withey, a long-time friend, about writing his last name on her child's birth certificate outside of the laundry room at GRACE Marketplace in Gainesville, Fla., June 27, 2016. She does not want to write the biological father's last name on the certificate out of fear for her kid's safety." /><br> Racheal talks to Frankie Withey, a long-time friend, about writing his last name on her child's birth certificate outside of the laundry room at GRACE Marketplace in Gainesville, Fla., June 27, 2016. She does not want to write the biological father's last name on the certificate out of fear for her kid's safety.</p><p><img src="images/713-BEYOND_GRACE7.jpg" title="" alt="Racheal cradles her newborn son, Grayson, at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., July 5, 2016. "I have a reason to turn my life around," she said. Previously a drug addict and drug dealer, Racheal tattooed the words "dope game" on her knuckles when she was in jail." /><br> Racheal cradles her newborn son, Grayson, at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital in Gainesville, Fla., July 5, 2016. "I have a reason to turn my life around," she said. Previously a drug addict and drug dealer, Racheal tattooed the words "dope game" on her knuckles when she was in jail.</p><p><img src="images/714-BEYOND_GRACE8.jpg" title="" alt="Unable to return to the homeless shelter she called home, Racheal and her newborn son temporarily stay in a motel off of Starke, Fla. Although she managed to stop doing drugs for her child, the baby's biological father did not. As a result, he failed a drug test administered by the Department of Children and Families and Racheal is facing the consequences. "I wanted to give him a chance to meet his kid and he caused us a home," she said." /><br> Unable to return to the homeless shelter she called home, Racheal and her newborn son temporarily stay in a motel off of Starke, Fla. Although she managed to stop doing drugs for her child, the baby's biological father did not. As a result, he failed a drug test administered by the Department of Children and Families and Racheal is facing the consequences. "I wanted to give him a chance to meet his kid and he caused us a home," she said.</p><p><img src="images/715-BEYOND_GRACE9.jpg" title="" alt="Still jobless, Racheal often pawns items for extra money at the local Pawn Shop, Starke, Fla., Sept. 8, 2016. “I’ll take anything I can get, I just need money for gas,” she told the sales associate. The associate offered her $11 for the three video games." /><br> Still jobless, Racheal often pawns items for extra money at the local Pawn Shop, Starke, Fla., Sept. 8, 2016. “I’ll take anything I can get, I just need money for gas,” she told the sales associate. The associate offered her $11 for the three video games.</p><p><img src="images/717-BEYOND_GRACE11.jpg" title="" alt="A bowl of Grayson's Thanksgiving meal- blended turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing- is placed next to an ashtray at their home in Brooker, Fla., Nov. 24, 2016. Although Racheal's doctor recommended to hold off on table food, she wanted her son to try his first Thanksgiving dinner this year." /><br> A bowl of Grayson's Thanksgiving meal- blended turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing- is placed next to an ashtray at their home in Brooker, Fla., Nov. 24, 2016. Although Racheal's doctor recommended to hold off on table food, she wanted her son to try his first Thanksgiving dinner this year.</p><p><img src="images/718-BEYOND_GRACE13.jpg" title="" alt="Racheal plays with Grayson after a long day of errands at their home in Brooker, Fla." /><br> Racheal plays with Grayson after a long day of errands at their home in Brooker, Fla.</p></noscript></div>