With no place to go, the streets can eat you up.

My life goal at 18 wasn’t to live under a tree at age 30.   When I was 16 I started working for a Popeye’s franchise in Mt. Greenwood, a Chicago suburb.  By the time I was 18 I was the manager of one store and assistant manager at 4 others.  At 18 years old, I made the Popeye’s employee magazine as a bright, enthusiastic worker, working at 5 restaurants. I was working hard - - working 6 days a week, with 1 day off.

I was able to maintain that pace for 11.5 years. I would get raises every now and then. I continued working for them, but began to add beer to my daily regimen.  I was soon drinking more and more on my 1 day off.  I knew I was addicted and left my employment. There is power in alcohol. Overcoming alcohol requires a stable environment.

I traveled to Iowa and settled here in Davenport. I enrolled in the Salvation Army’s ARC program to get clean.  Room and board were provided.  I attended AA meetings and began to gain control of my life.  The stress of juggling multiple jobs and the fast pace of Chicago itself played a part in my burn out. I decided to make Davenport my home. 

The ARC program was great and did its job of helping me stay sober.  The problem was that at the end of the program you had to get out—and I didn’t have a place to go.  And you had to wait a year before you could return. With no home and no job, I quickly fell back into the old bad habits.  I was in and out of ARC programs for several years.  If you have no place to go, the streets can eat you up.

I learned to live near the Humility Shelter, taking advantage of the day room, the Corner Closet and the Café on Vine as part of my survival network.  I staked out a tree and lived under it for 2 years.  The area agencies and police knew where I lived.  Some of the policemen would even stop and give me food from their own lunches. 

Then I met Rebecca, Humility social worker.  Rebecca was patient with me and helped me see new opportunities and possibilities. Once I was ready, Rebecca was able to connect me to housing programs that have literally saved my life.

Being homeless makes you appreciate how valuable life is and at the same time how accessible the wrong things can be.  The ‘big, open road’ looks so much easier to walk than the ‘straight and narrow path’…until you are on it. 

I appreciate everything more now - my home that I share with another Humility participant, clean clothes, working at the Fresh Start Center, and opportunities to help others. I am rediscovering and utilizing the skills I used at Popeye’s now at the Fresh Start Center.

Suddenly, I feel the energy and optimism I had as an 18 year old returning to my body. And I feel like I am home again.