Homeless on the Eighth Floor

By Sharon Sims

Karen arrives in New York City and is swept into its vibrant, unforgiving nightlife. What begins as experimentation to fit in quickly spirals into addiction, pulling her into a world where survival becomes its own currency. After running away from an abusive relationship and the streets leave her with nowhere else to go, she lands in the hotel Maritza, a welfare shelter in Herald Square at the height of the crack epidemic.

Forced to take refuge on the eighth floor, Karen finds herself among women from every walk of life, fellow addicts, hardened survivors, and troubled souls carrying stories darker than the hallways they pace. Behind locked doors, she uncovers a hidden world where a shelter meant to save them and a system designed to break them become their greatest threat.

On the eighth floor, nothing is what it seems-not the staff, not the rules, and certainly not the promises. Inspired by true events, this gripping novel pulls you into a place where hope is dangerous, truth is costly, and survival is never guaranteed. A raw, urgent story that challenges everything we think we know about homelessness, addiction, and the fight to reclaim one's life.

Author's Bio

Sharon is the author of Sometimes We Look Just Like You and an emerging inspirational speaker whose work centers on resilience, truth-telling, and the human stories behind social issues. Drawing from lived experience, she writes fiction rooted in emotion and the real world. Sharon speaks at colleges, community organizations, and social service programs, using her journey to inspire hope, healing, and change for others. She wants her strength and faith to be a beacon to help others rise from their own darkest chapters.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0HHQMQS2T
• ISBN13: 9798171456177
• Release Date: September 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"