A Place Called Home: A Memoir

"A Place Called Home will take your breath away."--Jeanette Walls, author of The Glass Castle

"It's impossible to read A Place Called Home and not want to redouble your efforts to fight the systems of poverty that have plagued America for far too long."--Hillary Rodham Clinton

A Place Called Home chronicles David Ambroz's harrowing eleven-year journey through homelessness and poverty in New York City, followed by a turbulent experience in foster care. This powerful memoir exposes the harsh realities faced by countless children living in poverty and highlights Ambroz's extraordinary resilience and transformation.

As young children, David and his siblings should have been focused on school, but instead, they wandered the streets searching for shelter while their mother struggled with mental illness. Their quest for safety leads them to train stations, 24-hour diners, and any place that offers warmth. Their days are spent scavenging for food and bathing in public restrooms.

When David is placed into foster care, he initially sees it as a beacon of hope, only to find that it brings its own set of dangers. Shuffled between abusive homes and enduring the cruelty of those who reject him for his emerging sexuality, David's experience paints a stark picture of systemic failure.

Amid the turmoil, David finds refuge and hope in libraries, schools, and the kindness of a few compassionate adults. His unyielding determination and resilience earn him a scholarship to Vassar College, marking the beginning of his escape from poverty. He later graduates from UCLA Law with a mission to reform laws impacting children in poverty.

A Place Called Home is a poignant and lyrical narrative that captures one boy's journey from despair to hope. It is both a gripping personal story and a compelling call to action, urging readers to move beyond sympathy and advocate for meaningful change.

Author: David Ambroz
Publisher: Legacy Lit
Published: 05/06/2025
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9780306923036

About the Author
David Ambroz is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. He currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon. Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.