Sacoiya, an 18-year-old Western Hills University High School senior, has spent years bouncing from home to home - her father's, her best friend's, her sister's. Her father was neglectful and abusive, she said. Her mother didn't pay attention to her.

As she described her situation, Sacoiya lowered her voice and looked down, her anger palpable. Writing, she said, was the only way she knew to express her feelings, sometimes destructive ones.

"What this group offers is a therapeutic environment for them to share what they've been through and to be validated," said Rebeka Beach, adolescent homeless education liaison for Project Connect. "The girls are so respectful. They support each other. And you can almost see the stress leaving them."