Hi, I’m Nicole Rae Butler. I’m starting college this fall to study Social Work, a path that feels personal—because I’ve lived through the systems I now want to help change. I’ve been navigating homelessness since middle school, living everywhere from cars and motels to abandoned houses and friend’s couches. It's been tough, but it’s also taught me compassion, grit, and how to find humor in unlikely places.

Right now, I work as a Housing and Resource Navigator for CAA’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, helping other young people find stability and support. I earned my high school diploma and a CTE certificate from the HACC Education Program, where I got to work with 6th graders and a school counselor—experiences that deepened my love for helping others grow.