Debra's journey in pictures: Help, Hope and Heartbreak

Debra Griego, 64, sorts through her storage unit the night before she has to have her stuff out before she is set to be evicted from the unit, on Dec. 10, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Boni Galarneau, center right, her husband Billy, and son Adam, far right, help Debra Griego move her belongings out of the storage unit she was evicted from on Dec. 11 in Albuquerque. The family moved Griego’s belongings to a new unit and paid for the storage through March.

Debra Griego finds a photograph of her three children while clearing out her storage unit she was being evicted from on Dec. 11, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Debra Griego sorts through her belongings at a storage unit she is being evicted from on Dec. 11, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Debra Griego shares a moment with her dog Louie inside her cleaned-out storage unit sort she is being evicted from on Dec. 11, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M. The Galarneau family moved Griego's belongings to a new unit and paid for the storage through March.

Debra Griego warms up while sitting in the back of the Galarneau family's truck before heading out to find a new storage unit to move her belongings to on Dec. 11, 2024. Griego was evicted from her previous storage unit. Griego was feeling ill the night of the move.

Debra Griego coughs while moving her belongings into the new storage unit on Dec. 11. The Galarneau family helped move Griego’s belongings and paid for her new storage unit through March. Griego fell ill the night of the move and wanted to go to the hospital but could not because of her dog, Louie.

Debra Griego looks for her ID card while checking into the Red Roof Inn hotel with Boni Galarneau on Dec. 11, 2024. Galarneau decided she wanted to pay for Griego's stay as Griego was ill the night of the storage unit move and did not want her sleeping on the cold streets.

Boni Galarneau is hugged by Debra Griego after Galarneau pays for a room for Griego to stay in at the Red Roof Inn on Dec. 11.

Debra Griego and her dog Louie arrive at the hotel room that Boni Galarneau paid for at the Red Roof Inn, after the Galarneau family helped Griego move her belongings to a new storage unit on Dec. 11, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Debra Griego takes a moment of relief inside the hotel room that Boni Galarneau and her husband, Billy, paid at the Red Roof Inn after the Galarneau family helped Griego move her belongings to a new storage unit on Dec. 11, 2024, in Albuquerque, N.M.

Debra Griego exits her hotel room with her dog Louie to meet Boni and Billy Galarneau in the parking lot on Dec. 13, 2024. The couple decided to extend Griego's stay at the Red Roof Inn as a Christmas present. They wanted her to rest as she was battling a cold and felt it was dangerous for her to sleep in the cold on the streets.

Debra Griego cries while she hugs Billy Galarneau in the parking lot on Dec. 13, 2024. The couple decided to extend Griego's stay at the Red Roof Inn as a Christmas present. They wanted her to rest as she was battling a cold and felt it was dangerous for her to sleep in the cold on the streets.

Debra Griego packs her canned food items during her last morning at the Red Roof Inn hotel where she has been staying for three weeks on Jan. 1, 2025. The Galarneau family has been helping Griego, and paid for her stay at the hotel from Dec. 11, through the first of the year.

Griego plays with her dog, Louie, during her last morning at the Red Roof Inn hotel where she had been staying for three weeks on Jan. 1.

Debra Griego walks her dog Louie during her last morning at the Red Roof Inn hotel where she has been staying for three weeks on Jan. 1, 2025. The Galarneau family has been helping Griego, and paid for her stay at the hotel from Dec. 11, through the first of the year.

Debra Griego packs her belongings during her last morning at the Red Roof Inn hotel where she has been staying for three weeks on Jan. 1, 2025. The Galarneau family has been helping Griego, and paid for her stay at the hotel from Dec. 11, through the first of the year.

Debra Griego takes a moment on Jan. 1 as she processes having to go back onto the streets after staying at the Red Roof Inn hotel for three weeks. The Galarneau family had been helping Griego and paid for her stay at the hotel from Dec. 11 through the first of the year.

Debra Griego, 64, receives a phone call at the Red Roof Inn from Chuck Holman, founder of the ABQ Plan, a nonprofit that seeks to keep low-income seniors from becoming homeless, on the morning Griego is set to leave the hotel on Jan. 1, 2025. He told her he might have a room for her and wants to meet her in person for an interview.

Debra Griego holds her bible during her last morning at the Red Roof Inn hotel where she has been staying for several weeks on Jan. 1, 2025. The Galarneau family has been helping Griego, and paid for her stay at the hotel from Dec. 11, through the first of the year.

Debra Griego checks out of her hotel room with the help of Billy Galarneau during her last morning at the Red Roof Inn hotel where she has been staying for three weeks on Jan. 1, 2025. The Galarneau family has been helping Griego, and paid for her stay at the hotel from Dec. 11, through the first of the year.

Debra Griego, 64, talks with Chuck Holman, right, who is the founder of the ABQ Plan, a nonprofit that seeks to keep low-income seniors from becoming homeless, on the morning Griego is back on the streets on Jan. 1, 2025. He told her there was a room available at House of Hope, located in the International District.

Deborah Dimeola, 59, a tenant at House of Hope, hugs Debra Griego, 64, while they stand in a room available to Griego at the House of Hope in the International District on Jan. 1, 2025. Chuck Holman, who is the founder of the ABQ Plan, a nonprofit that seeks to keep low-income seniors from becoming homeless, reached out to Griego on the morning she was heading back on the streets. After touring the house, Griego stayed one night but then decided to leave due to not being comfortable with male housemates.

Chuck Holman, who is the founder of the ABQ Plan, a nonprofit that seeks to keep low-income seniors from becoming homeless, helps Griego fill out a residence application at the House of Hope in the International District on Jan. 1. Holman reached out to Griego on the morning she was heading back on the streets. Griego stayed one night but then decided to leave due to not being comfortable with male housemates.

Debra Griego, 64, reads a residence application at the House of Hope in the International District on Jan. 1, 2025. Chuck Holman, who is the founder of the ABQ Plan, a nonprofit that seeks to keep low-income seniors from becoming homeless, reached out to Griego on the morning she was heading back out on the streets. Griego stayed one night but then decided to leave due to not being comfortable with male housemates.

Debra Griego looks through her new storage unit before gathering her things to sleep on the streets on Jan. 2, 2025.

Debra Griego looks through photographs inside her new storage unit before gathering her things to sleep on the streets on Jan. 2.

ABOVE: Griego holds a photograph of her and her youngest son, Joseph, inside her new storage unit.

Debra Griego with her dog Louie gathers her tent, sleeping bags, and stroller at her new storage unit before heading out to sleep on the streets for the first time since staying at the Red Roof Inn for three weeks on Jan. 2, 2025.

Griego makes her way across the street next to Interstate 40 with her dog, Louie, and Love’s Travel Stop employee, Kevin Debus, on Jan. 2. Debus helped Griego set up her camp during her first night back on the streets after staying at a hotel for three weeks over the holiday.

Griego sets up her tent next to Interstate 40 with the help of Love’s Travel Stop employee, Kevin Debus.

Debra Griego settles in her tent next to Interstate 40 with her dog Louie with the help of Love's Travel Stop employee, Kevin Debus, on Jan. 2, 2025. Debus helped Griego set up her camp during her first night back on the streets after staying at a hotel for three weeks over the holiday.

Chancey Bush

Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Chancey Bush Photographer

Published January 12, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. Modified January 12, 2025 - 10:43 a.m.

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