On a sweltering morning in Oklahoma City, the Byers family prepared for the first day of school from their makeshift encampment beside a highway. Ayvah Byers, 12, was attempting to log into her remote learning portal on a donated laptop she shares with her siblings, while her 14-year-old brother Easton helped her reset a forgotten password. Meanwhile, their 10-year-old brother Aurelio spent time nearby in a river, searching for crawdads.

Their father, Michael Byers, 36, was working to inform Ayvah’s teacher about their situation via email, explaining why the children were learning from an unstable outdoor setting. Though the children had wanted to attend classes in person, Michael expressed concern they might face bullying due to their appearance.

The family’s homelessness is known to Oklahoma social services, which currently regard them as adequately cared for and attending school. However, they face the looming risk of child protective intervention should their circumstances deteriorate, a prospect Michael fears deeply.

The Byers family has been without stable housing for nearly a year following their eviction over an $808 rental debt. Michael believed this debt was covered by the Oklahoma City Housing Authority but was proven otherwise. After losing their apartment, the family also lost eligibility for subsidized housing, complicating efforts to secure new accommodations.

Michael’s background includes growing up in poverty on Oklahoma City’s south side and overcoming a troubled youth. He has held various jobs but remains without steady income, relying heavily on food banks. Without refrigeration, the family consumes mainly shelf-stable foods and manages day-to-day life without basic amenities, cooking on open fires and bathing at neighbors’ homes.

Their previous subsidized apartment had faced significant challenges, including flooding, power outages, and poor management. After eviction, the family lived first in wooded areas before settling by the riverbank, where basic facilities are absent, and daily survival is a constant struggle. Aurelio was injured by gunfire but survived the incident.

Efforts by Michael to regain housing vouchers and financial assistance have been largely unsuccessful, particularly because he is a single parent. The Oklahoma City Housing Authority states a pressing shortage of affordable housing units, with demand far outstripping supply.

The landlord who evicted the family pursued legal action, winning a judgment that included legal fees and cemented the Byers’ ineligibility for public housing. Legal support organizations note that shelters often require residents to secure employment and oversee their own children’s care, obstacles that many single parents find prohibitive.

Despite persistent adversity, Michael Byers remains determined to improve his family’s circumstances. He holds aspirations of relocating to Colorado in hopes of breaking the cycle of poverty that has hindered them for years. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to keep pushing,” he said, referring to his children. Ayvah added, “I love Dad,” to which Michael replied, “I love you too. Always and forever.”