how you gave Joseph a second chance

This is Joseph’s Story. Joseph was raised by his loving aunt and uncle who adopted him from his biological mother, who struggled with a meth addiction and was homeless at the time. Given his adoption, his sense of security was always on edge, a feeling that lingered throughout his childhood. He got through school and went to college and was doing well for a long time. But that changed as his adoptive parents aged, and he had to take care of them for several years until they passed.

After this devastating loss, Joseph searched for a meaningful relationship in his life, and found one. However, after months of dating, he found himself in an emotionally and physically abusive relationship. He wanted to seek help, but going public as a victim of abuse made him feel ashamed, so he kept it to himself. Things became too much after the relationship ended and he became separated from his children.

After he became homeless, Joseph’s world felt like it was falling apart and he no longer had the will to go on. He nearly overdosed several times.

Life felt hopeless. Joseph began to self-medicate with substances and underwent treatment for his emotional health. After he became homeless, Joseph’s world felt like it was falling apart and he no longer had the will to go on. He nearly overdosed several times and was put in the hospital for harming himself, but some part of Joseph wanted to survive.

Joseph finally got off the streets when he was admitted to A New Leaf’s East Valley Men’s Center (EVMC). Joseph says, “I don’t know if I would have been able to get it together had I not come here. I stopped caring if I lived or died, but the staff here treated me like family and helped to build me up. Dave, the program manager has gone out of his way to check up on me and the staff have encouraged me to attend all of my appointments. My health is much better. I’m stronger now.”

Joseph has moved from the emergency shelter to a transitional bed which means he is successfully working through the program and is ready to transition to independent living. Joseph reflects back on his past and defines his new outlook very positively: “I’m learning that I can’t rely on others to make me happy. I have to believe in myself first and not depend on others. No one’s going to get me out of bed to do what I have to do each day.”

When asked how he feels about EVMC and the support he receives, Joseph replied with a shy smile, “There’s nothing like a clean pair of socks.” He continued, “Every little thing helps, from socks to a peanut butter sandwich. I come back from a hard day’s work to lay on clean sheets. People come here to serve us meals or sing carols for us. It all makes a difference.”

“When we reach bottom, getting help makes all the difference. I am so grateful for all that I have been given here.”

Joseph continued to say, “When we reach bottom, or we’ve hit a rough spot in our lives, getting help makes all the difference. And when that happens, it can change everything. I am so grateful for all that I have been given here. I’m even volunteering in the men’s kitchen. A lot of the other guys give back too. It helps us all.”

Joseph is currently rebuilding his relationship with his two daughters and he has his EVMC family of staff and residents to spend time with. He no longer worries how he will overcome the difficulties that once faced him.