Biddle House gave me the push I needed to get my life together. The help of my case manager and every worker at Biddle motivated me to find stable employment and a permanent home. Every worker truly cares about our well-being. The employees ensure a safe, clean and caring environment for us.
I grew up hard. My parents believed in tough love. I wish they were more present than tough. Despite this, I was a good student. I played football and graduated from Clyde C. Miller High School with perfect attendance. I went on to study at Saint Louis University and played Rugby. Although I appreciate my experience at SLU, I didn’t take full advantage of the help offered to me. I struggled to deal with my childhood trauma, which prevented me from accepting the help. I was taught that men have to struggle to have things in life. I’ve learned I don’t have to struggle, and it is ok to accept help.
I’ve been homeless at least four times in my 25 years of living. But this time, I was determined to succeed with the help of people who cared about me. I want my kids to have better opportunities than I had. I want them to know their dad did not give up when times got hard. I fought through adversity with help from compassionate and encouraging people who wanted me to succeed.
My experience at Biddle House was positive because I came into this opportunity with an open mind. I wasn’t going to allow my pride to stop me this time. Biddle House provided me with opportunities, which I took full advantage of, and it’s all paying off.
Today, I have a job, a home, and a new perspective on life. I look forward to returning to school to pursue my engineering studies, celebrating my kid’s birthdays, and exploring the world. I know that adversity will come, but I am confident that if I work hard, my journey will lead me to places I couldn’t have imagined.
