by Heather Ann White
It wasn’t drugs or alcohol that caused John to be homeless.
It was plain bad luck.
John, who has been homeless for three years, lost his job and his apartment after he was in a car accident, which caused damaged to his spine. The construction/warehouse worker found himself unable to do the strenuous manual labor that he was accustomed to.
John then came to the Presbyterian Night Shelter. He was 52 years old.
“I didn’t have another choice,” he said. “But things turned out all right.”
Now, three years later, John is getting back on track. He enrolled in PNS’ case management program, which helped him with his goals of finding a job and getting an apartment.
Because he hadn’t worked in years, John decided to attend Project WISH – Workforce Innovative Solutions to Homelessness – a program that helps the homeless with job preparation and placement. Soon after graduating the seven-week program, John was hired by Presbyterian Night Shelter to work at the shelter’s new transitional facility for veterans – the Patriot House.
“It made me feel real good when they offered me the position. I’m proud of myself,” he said. “At first, I could hardly believe it.”
John will start his new job on July 12, working as a client services assistant.
He’s also working to complete his GED at the Day Resource Center, he said. John completed high school in Louisiana, but because of a fire, his high school records were lost.
“I’m going to get my own apartment, get a vehicle and get out of the shelter,” he said. “And I feel good about that. This is the first step to a new beginning.”
John said he is determined to accomplish these goals and set an example for his grandchildren, who have had problems with drugs.
John, who went to prison in the 80s for a drug conviction, knows that drugs can lead a person down the wrong track, he said.
“I’ve been off parole and out of trouble for 25 years,” he said. “Even though that conviction is going to be on my back until I leave this world, I’m staying out of trouble – the police don’t want me and I definitely don’t want them.”
John is thankful for PNS and the services that he has received. He recommends case management as well as Project WISH to other homeless.
“I am proud of myself. I try to set an example for everybody I talk to – some will take heed some of them won’t,” he said. “But I’m happy and I feel good – !@#$%^&* good.”
