Rising Up
A 22-year old young man, “John”, walked through our doors several weeks ago, referred by a partner agency. He had been living under a bridge, on a mattress he found in a dumpster.
Here is his story.
He came to America through adoption at the age of 5. School and family life quickly became sources of despair, angst and frustration. Behavioral and academic difficulties propelled him through the continuum of school and community-based services; progress was slow, and at times, stagnant.
He entered foster care at the age of 12.
The years following were marked by failed placements, abrupt transitions, and stints at the youth shelter, leaving him with a deep sense of anomie. He felt adrift, not knowing how—or where—to anchor.
He aged out of foster care at 18. The struggles continued; homelessness, instability, despondency. But his grit, resourcefulness, creativity and diligence carried him through; he kept a restaurant job for two years, sleeping wherever he could. He struggled to secure stable, affordable housing and even shelter.
“John” lived in his car until it was impounded along with his possessions. With nothing left but the clothes on his back, he found this spot under the bridge amidst graffiti and trash.
Thursday night would be his last night sleeping under the bridge. He is now safely sheltered, showered, fed, with clean clothes, until next steps are identified.
His journey to wholeness will take more than stable housing and access to resources. It will take community, love, and guidance. We cannot change his past nor promise his future, but we can give him a safe place to come each day, where people know his name, accept him without judgement, clothe him, feed him, love him, and believe in him deeply.
We are honored to stand with this young man as he starts his journey to rise out of homelessness and into self-sufficiency.
UPDATE: This young man came to Mobile Hope last month. With a smile on his face, he shared that he got a new job in an Ashburn restaurant and was renting a room with an old friend.