Meet Alhassane, originally from Guinea, who began his quest for asylum in the United States in October 2023. His journey was driven by a need to escape the violence, political instability, and poverty in his homeland.
Upon his arrival to America, Alhassane faced homelessness in New York City for a month, seeking help from a mosque, another Runaway Homeless Youth provider, and finally SCO Family of Services. Alhassane found refuge at Independence Inn I, where he received support in maintaining employment, enrolling in school, applying for supportive housing, and securing immigration services to pursue American citizenship.
Currently, Alhassane works as a delivery driver for DoorDash and sends money back to his family in Guinea whenever possible to alleviate their financial struggles. He is enrolled in Pathways to Graduation, aiming to obtain his GED diploma. In his spare time, Alhassane enjoys swimming and going to the gym.
A significant milestone occurred on October 3, 2025, when Alhassane moved into his own supportive housing apartment in Brooklyn. This achievement marks a tremendous step forward in his journey. As Alhassane received the keys to his new apartment, he expressed his deep gratitude for the support he received from SCO. The Independence Inn I and Brooklyn Youth Center teams played a crucial role in assisting him with the move, ensuring a smooth transition to independence.
Janeese Goldman founded Karla’s Kompanions in honor of her late mother, as a way to give back to the community. Karla’s Kompanions is a valued partner of SCO, supporting several initiatives that directly benefit the individuals and families we serve.
Most recently, Karla’s Kompanions donated supplies to last year’s Back-to-School Drive, helping ensure students had the materials they needed to start the school year prepared and confident. They also adopted our Morris Koppelman Early Childhood Education Center by sponsoring their Holiday Wishlist, generously providing holiday gifts for the children and families in the program.
“We discovered SCO while looking for ways to give back to the community and were connected to one of the SCO staff members. After learning about the many ways SCO supports such a wide range of individuals in diverse situations, we felt a strong connection to its mission—one that closely aligned with the causes that were so important to my mother during her life. Being able to support our local community in any way we can, and to help bring joy, motivation, love, a sense of worth, and support toward success in life, means so much to us.” – Janeese Goldman, Karla’s Kompanions
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