We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tyenesha Fields. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tyenesha below.
Tyenesha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later
Jacinths Homeless Foundation (JHF) Was founded in February 2018 by Tyenesha Fields. She started JHF because she experienced the struggles of not having many options while being homeless. She was homeless 2 times in her life traveling from many shelters with her young son. To qualify for a spot in transitional housing she was required to have been homeless for 2.5 years. This was one of the things that she wanted to change, no one should have to struggle and live on the streets for 2+ years just to receive assistance. While in transitional housing she was required to take a parenting class and follow a 3 strike method. She was penalized for enrolling in medical school because she was frustrated with the job market. Her second strike was received after having been in the transitional housing program for 1.5 years because she had found a work-from-home job and was working that job at her mother’s house. Shortly, after her 2nd strike, she thought it was time to leave the program having saved up enough money to put a deposit on an apartment a few miles away from her school. For 3 weeks she and her son shared a pallet on the floor. Not able to afford a desk she had her computer set up on the floor and she would either sit or lay flat on the floor to complete her 40 hours a week. She would then walk two miles to school with her son and with the assistance of classmates and teachers she attended class. A daily routine she did for 2 years.
In 2019 she hosted her first Hydrate the Homeless event where She provided the homeless with sandwiches, snack packs, chips, and water bottles. This is an event she has done every 3 months and with the pandemic taking a toll on the world she teamed up with a local Medical Director and provided Covid Vaccine to those in need.
Her goal is to assist with rental & utilities, and transitional housing without waiting for 2+ years and much more.
I think everything has fallen into place in the timeframe that it should have and I am grateful for that because every life lesson I’ve been through has created a positive impact on my nonprofit organization
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hello, I’m TyeNesha Fields, but most call me Tye I’m the founder of Jacinths Homeless Foundation, A nonprofit organization that supplies homeless and low-income families food baskets, clothing, and assistance with other needs.
I’m also the owner of Jacinths Eatery, home of the best Peach Cobbler on this side of the valley
My eight year old autistic son is the owner of Jeremiahs Cookies
A family of multiple incomes & were just getting started 🌟🌟
https://jfhcharity.org
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Persistence and integrity. I have pushed through to build the reputation of my nonprofit organization no matter the conflicts and distractions that have come my way. A lot of things I have done by myself from the ground up and I’ve always been taught to never get up no matter how hard it gets
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
it is OK to ask for help. I’ve had to learn that asking for help does not mean that you are weak. Sometimes I struggle with it but I’ve learned to be more open
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