08/13/2026
Little victories 💫
Justin Kinsella’s journey through homelessness began with a house fire. In 2023, his parents’ house burned down, and when the rebuilding project was almost finished, they told him to leave. They had rebuilt the family home without a room for him. He was 19 years old.
Not knowing what to do, he contacted his therapist, who managed to get him a bed at Safe Harbor.
Over the next two years, Justin made connections that helped him move toward the path he is now following: serving as a tour guide at Yellowstone National Park, a position he started last April. In this role, he escorts visitors around the park in a historic yellow bus, introducing them to lesser-known areas and offering a new perspective on Yellowstone’s most popular landmarks.
“Not many people that came from where I came from get an opportunity like this,” said Justin, now 21. “I feel lucky. I earned this by working hard, but I also had a lot of people who helped me lay the foundation to get my dream job.”
Read the entire inspiring story of Justin's journey on the Safe Harbor website. Click the link in the comments below to check it out! Thank you, Justin, for sharing your story with us. We're so happy for you!
**Justin’s story is part of our new series highlighting shelter guests' small (and big!) breakthroughs and how these mark the beginning of lasting change.**
