Growing up, I bounced between my father in Queens, NY and my mother in Newark, NJ. My mother was abusive and my father was a functional alcoholic. In general, I felt rejected.
After junior high, my dad sent me to California for a fresh start. I did okay until 11th grade when I got into crack cocaine and dropped out of school. I moved back to NY/NJ and lived with my parents during my mid-20s. I went through cycles of working and using drugs. I finally got kicked out of the house around age 30.
I burned every bridge until I was alone on the street. People told me about different city shelters, which I’ve bounced around between for the past decade. I’ve had spurts of living in my own place, but then I would start getting high.
It’s tough to get and keep a job when you’re homeless. You have nowhere to shower, change clothes, or store belongings. It’s especially difficult to find a job that pays more than minimum wage. I worked hard to get a certificate in building maintenance, but drug use held me back from progressing in the field.
If you're not taking care of yourself and dealing with your drug addiction, it's hard to break out of the homeless cycle. A person isn't a “bum” just because he is homeless; that title is earned by not managing your life. Homelessness can happen to anyone, whether it’s due to family problems, substance abuse, a fire, losing a job, committing a crime, mental illness or something else.
A recovery program is the best way to get out of the homeless cycle. After being here in NYC Rescue Mission’s program for a few months, I have hope of turning things around. I have found faith in the Lord again. The scripture that encourages me whenever I want to quit is, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (NASB). I’m working on my GED and hope to get a job helping others like how I’ve been helped here.
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