The Turning Point to a New Life
By: Ethan Jones
I met this gentleman when he had called in right before I was about to clock out. He had been staying at a shelter and commuting to the valley every day for work. He said he had been anxious all day because today was the last day the shelter where he was staying would be able to hold a bed for him.
He shared with me how he had been trying to stay sober and get his life back together for his children. I felt moved to help him because I too had been in that same position before. We bonded over the love we have for our children, as well as our battles of our addiction nature. As a father myself, I wanted to do everything I could do to help this man.
I introduced him to one of our most compassionate homeowners in the Wilmington area. They hit it off instantly and she asked him to come see the place the following day. During his phone interview with the homeowner, he shared his situation, and the homeowner said, “If you like the place, you can move in on the same day.” He was ecstatic; this was exactly what he had been looking for.
But there was one issue. The morning after I called him to follow up, he sounded anxious. He told me that he was worried that he did not have enough money to afford the rent. It would be another two weeks until he would have enough money. And since they couldn’t hold his spot at the shelter anymore, he felt defeated and at a loss. I was determined to help him get housed!
I filed a SUPP2, which is a rental assistance to help residents make up the difference in their rent and get their foot in the door. From there, I worked closely with our admin team to process the application as quickly as possible. Thanks to our speedy work, the SUPP2 was filed successfully and our quick turnaround allowed for him to move in that day.
I was thrilled to share the good news that he was able to move in on the same day as the house tour. He told me how grateful he was for us and to be able to live in a SHARE! Collaborative House. His family was also grateful they were finally able to sleep soundly at night, knowing that he had somewhere safe to sleep.
Interested in learning more about SHARE!'s Collaborative Housing? Email housing@shareselfhelp.org.
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