A young man's travails with homelessness lead him to his new family, Waypoint

Quintis said if it weren't for Waypoint, it would be a very dark world. (Rochester Voice photo)

ROCHESTER - Tonight, Waypoint will hold its annual SleepOut fund-raiser that seeks to raise awareness of homelessness among New Hampshire's youth, but for people like Quintis, Waypoint is a year-round lifeline that means everything in the world to him.
A young man mature far beyond his 20 years, Quintis broke down earlier this week when asked to reflect on what the Rochester nonprofit has meant to him.
After his family basically kicked him out of his Rochester area home, he needed emotional and spiritual help and comfort, and found it at Waypoint.
"I found a family here," he said as he choked up with emotion. "I know I am welcome here. The smiles I see when I walk through the doors are not fake."
Quintis, who is opinionated, eloquent and goal-driven, says family is the most important thing to him, and that's what he gets with Waypoint.
"Family is a two-way street of loyalty," he said. "And I hadn't felt that in years till I came here."
Waypoint's drop-in center in Rochester is located at 3 Wallace St. across from Windjammers restaurant, in a space that formerly housed a garage.
On Tuesday afternoon Quintis was the only client on site, but his banter with staff was as cheerful as the day was warm.
Besides providing emotional support to area youth experiencing various forms of homelessness, Waypoint stockpiles food, personal health and sanitary needs, clothing, food and lockers where they can keep their valuables and personal stuff.
"A lot of those we serve don't have a secure place at home," said Mandy Lancaster, a Waypoint program manager.
The nonprofit runs 16 sites across the state and over 24 programs, according to their website. Their clients range in age from 12-24.
The year Waypoint's Rochester SleepOut event will take place at 3 Wallace St., but folks can also do it elsewhere or virtually.
As for Quintis, who will soon turn 21, he's among the working homeless, employed full time by a health company at the Rochester Manor nursing home.
His goal is to earn enough money to take some HVAC courses at the Granite State Trade School in Raymond.
We're pretty sure he'll get there soon enough.
He's got a good family behind him.
For more info on tonight's event click here.