Finding Peace and Safety

“I’ve received housing and food…but I get so much more than material things here. I’ve gotten information, guidance, and perspectives…
I feel peace and safety here.” 

In March this year, Sean began meeting with his advocate every week, faithfully. He had hit the breaking point of a very hard season and was now living in his car, facing homelessness for the first time in his life. Sean and his advocate began working on goals including housing and budgeting, and started tackling the barriers that were preventing him from being housed.

The impact of living in your car might be lost on some of us…even those who work with under-resourced people might not fully grasp the physical toll that living in your car can have on your body. Issues and ailments that previously were just an annoyance, can become full-fledged health problems that set your body spiraling into chronic pain. For Sean, his swollen feet, back, and knee issues were getting worse each day, but he still faithfully showed up to his appointment each week. For 8 months he worked hard…and then a local housing opportunity came up. Because of the effort he had put in over the months before, Sean was ready for this opportunity, and within the week, he had a home.

Sean’s home now provides him with a warm and comfortable bed to sleep on, a place to shower and get ready, and kitchen appliances like a fridge and a stove. Cooking is something that brings Sean great joy, and one of his goals was to be able to cook for his children again…For the first time in over a year Sean was able to have his adult children over for a meal that he had prepared for them. Sean’s home is not only a place he can afford, it brings him rest, rejuvenation, community, and joy.

In one of his recent meetings, Sean shared this reflection with his advocate:
“I’ve received housing and food…but I get so much more than material things here. I’ve gotten information, guidance, and perspectives…I feel peace and safety here.”