Z.Z.
Sexy Nomad Calendar
Homeless Since
16 years
Age
39
Born
Provo, Utah
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Zakaydré, whose Greek-Italian name is the equivalent of “Zachary,” was born in Provo, Utah in June 1986 and raised in Salem, Utah. His early childhood was marked by domestic violence from his stepfather. He and his mother eventually fled back to Utah County, where they stayed in a shelter until she was able to attend college and find stable work.
“Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give them yours.”
As an adolescent, Zakaydré was placed in a state-run Group Home under proctored care. During this time, he learned a painful lesson about misplaced trust. Despite holding a job, he was required to sign over his paychecks to the Group Home, two of which were stolen by his case manager. Along with losing his income, he lost all his personal belongings. These violations pushed him to run away from the facility at age sixteen. He remained off the radar until he was arrested at eighteen.
During a difficult period of addiction and homelessness, a friend offered him support and a safe place to detox. Suffering from frostbite and struggling with substance use, Zakaydré accepted the help and relocated to Casper, Wyoming. There, he worked as a caregiver for a woman recovering from a stroke who owned a ranch. After her passing, he helped with her estate sale and gathered donated items, which he brought back to Utah to distribute to the unsheltered community.
Upon returning to Utah, Zakaydré hoped to support efforts to secure 100,000 sanctioned campground spaces for unsheltered individuals. However, his battle with addiction resurfaced, and he eventually lost his own housing. After being removed from the VOA, his circumstances worsened. He found purpose with the Nomad Alliance. During the winter, he volunteered as a bus manager, which gave him structure and a sense of contribution.
