Client Stories

Gates to Heaven: One Participant's Journey

We had the privilege of talking with one of Community Rebuilders participants He described to us his journey through homelessness and into permanent housing and has allowed us to share his story with all of you!

When he met hard times and became homeless he was able to stay with his daughter for a short time. This arrangement couldn’t last forever, and he soon had no other option but to stay at a mission. At the mission, he felt defeated and was unable to stay focused on anything positive. He wanted his own place, a place to call home. He had always been a hard worker and valued his independence. He recalled feeling like things could be okay, if he could just get a ”jump start” to get into housing. He had heard from others in the mission that Community Rebuilders might be able to help. He came to Community Rebuilders, and explained his situation.  Although he did not have a job he wanted housing and he believed he could maintain it with a bit of help.

He was perfect for our RISE and GAP programs. He was assisted in finding a landlord and  Community Rebuilders helped him pay his rent. Gradually, after five months of assistance, he began to pay his rent on his own. He has been in his home for almost three years now and he has a job at a local restaurant. He lives in the neighborhood and often stops into our office to say hello and update us on how he is doing. It was on one of these visits that he described Community Rebuilders as the “gates to heaven” – providing him with support when he needed it most. Those are very kind words from a man who did the hard work and achieved his goals. 

His wisdom to others is “Keep trying, you may give out, but don’t give up; be willing to work for what you want and even though you may go through a lot you will come out on top."

 “It is great to know that there are people in the community who care.”  He wishes others will be able to access the same kinds of services he did. Thank you for sharing your story and words of encouragement.