Author’s Note

Sleeping in My Jeans is a work of fiction, yet the story of Rita, Mattie, and Meg is all too real. State statistics for the 2016–2017 school year tell us that 22,541 students in Oregon did not have a safe place to call home. Not all of these students are on the street or in a car like Mattie and her family, but even though they may have a roof over their heads, they live in a state of constant turmoil.

Another social issue that appears in this novel is human trafficking. I-5 is known as the West Coast Track and considered a major network for sex trafficking from Canada to Mexico. It is a serious problem that needs attention and legislation.

Resources:

“Record Number of Homeless Students” by Molly Harbarger for the Oregonian/Oregon Live, November 17, 2017

“Oregon’s Homeless Student Population Rises Third Year in a Row” by Chris Lehman for Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), November 22, 2016

“On Track: Sexual Exploitation Along the I-5 Corridor” by Dylan Wells for The Gate, January 9, 2017

A portion of the sales of Sleeping in My Jeans will be donated to:

St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (Youth House for homeless teen girls and other affordable housing projects)

www.svdp.us

P.O. Box 24608

Eugene, Oregon 97402