TyeNesha Fields

TyeNesha Fields’ personal experience with homelessness inspired her to create an organization that would address the struggles and challenges faced by individuals without stable housing. In 2018, Fields established Jacinths Homeless Foundation with the mission to improve the lives of the homeless population and provide essential support to those in need.

Fields was homeless twice in her life and had navigated various shelters with her young son. Because of that experience, Fields understood firsthand the limited options and barriers that homeless individuals encounter. She recognized the need for change, particularly in the lengthy waiting period required to qualify for transitional housing, which motivated her to take action.

During her time in transitional housing, Fields persisted in her personal and educational pursuits. She enrolled in medical school and eventually left the program and secured an apartment for her and her son, enduring weeks of sharing a pallet on the floor and completing her work from a makeshift desk.

In 2019, Fields organized her first event, "Hydrate the Homeless," providing sandwiches, snack packs, chips and water bottles to those in need. This event became a regular occurrence, happening every three months, and when the pandemic struck, Fields collaborated with a local medical director to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to the homeless population.

Despite encountering doubters and naysayers, Fields remained persistent, focused and driven. Her hard work and determination have paid off, allowing her to make a significant impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness.

“Starting a company is never easy, but it's even more difficult when you're homeless,” Fields said. “However, I refused to let my circumstances hold me back from pursuing my dreams. I took a huge risk by investing every dollar I had in my nonprofit organization, but I did it because I believed in its success.”

Over the past five years, Fields has fed more than 10,000 people and provided school clothes to more than 1,000 children. She has also created emergency backpacks containing essential hygiene items, distributed masks during the pandemic and offered support groups for mothers who have experienced the loss of angel babies. In addition, Fields established Jacinths LLC, a business that assists individuals with rental and utility assistance applications, achieving an impressive 95% approval rating and saving countless families from homelessness.

Fields also uses her nonprofit organization to write letters to individual landlords and utility companies to prevent them from evicting tenants or shutting off utilities. She has saved hundreds of families from living on the streets as a result.

In recognition of her outstanding contributions, Fields received the Hero Award in 2022, an acknowledgment that only begins to encapsulate her dedication and impact.