David surprised himself. It was his first night at the Mission, and already he was feeling more hopeful than he’d expected. He was thinking about his talk that day with front office staff and his new caseworker, Elaina. David had learned about some resources, sure, but what stuck out to him most was how friendly the people were to him.

“Everybody here is very positive,” says David. “Front desk are really nice. They’ll answer all your questions and not brush you off, compared to some other places I’ve been at. Elaina, my caseworker, has been very helpful. Here, you guys really, truly care.”‍

That’s quite a different atmosphere than David is used to. For years, he bounced around temporary living situations, staying with friends or living on the streets. David has struggled with substance abuse, and he often hung around shady people who made it easy to stay in a cycle of destruction.

“I really wasn’t around positive people enough to be in that kind of [motivated state],” says David. “I wasn’t happy. Past jobs I’ve had, I think the stress made me want to drink. I knew in the back of my mind…I knew I had to make some changes, even before becoming homeless.”

David’s addiction had cost him another job. He was sleeping in his car when he decided to call the Mission. It would end up being one of the best decisions he ever made.

From that first night, David embraced the support and opportunities available to him at the Mission. He worked with Elaina to get on some waiting lists for housing. He started attending AA meetings and the Mission’s in-house addiction support group. He found a fulfilling job at a local hotel.

“These people over there [at the job] are super nice,” David says. “It almost feels like family over there, which makes a big difference. My past jobs have all been industrial-type jobs…being in a huge warehouse, crammed next to people, feeling just dirty and not nice. This is a nice change.”
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“It’s like a switch flipped [in David],” says Elaina. “He’s been coming in here every week, checking up on things. All of a sudden, he’s wanting to get housed and he’s determined to get housed. I’m like, ‘This is amazing!’ I’m so proud of him.”

David’s success is a testament to how safety, support, and respect can change a person’s outlook. Now, David is ready to beat homelessness and addiction, and in his words, “move on in life’s journey in a positive way.”

“I basically haven’t had my own apartment, ever,” says David. “You guys were really helpful with placement, and I feel comfortable getting my own place now. This place pretty much saved me.”

Friends: David’s turnaround started with that first night of shelter. But he never would have gotten it without compassionate people like you.

Will you make a gift of $95 today to give someone like David their first night of shelter and a path to success?‍‍