30 Stories: Permanent Supportive Housing

This year FrontLine is celebrating 30 years of serving with compassion, commitment and community.  In celebration of 30 years of service, over the course of the year we will be sharing with you the stories of 30 people who we have been honored to serve. OVERCOMING LIFE’S HARDEST CHALLENGESWe have known George for such a long time.  Our outreach staff (PATH) first met him in 2009 but, like many individuals that we meet who are homeless and struggling with untreated, severe mental illness, George did not trust us enough to accept much help.  We maintained whatever contact he allowed us to over the years, continually offering him opportunities to move from the streets.  In 2016, we learned that George had been hospitalized for psychiatric reasons.  FrontLine staff immediately went to the hospital and again talked with George about housing.  We were excited when George told us that he wanted to move his life from the streets.  He had goals for himself.  He asked us to help him.Others outside of the agency questioned George’s ability to maintain his housing.  They believed that George would have a difficult time living independently because they thought he would chose to frequently leave to again live outside or in cars.  He did not have any income, he was eating food out of trash cans daily, and most importantly - he was not accepting assistance with his mental illness and was not on medication to treat his symptoms.  We believed in George’s ability to not only maintain his housing but to eventually recognize the benefits to making other changes in his life.  He would simply need help in making this major life transition.George has lived in a permanent supportive housing building since mid-February 2016.  He has been able to maintain his housing with the support of many different programs offered at FrontLine.   Shortly after moving into his own apartment, George began to understand how medication could help him feel better and has been taking prescribed medications for the symptoms of his mental illness since June 2016.  He has also taken control of his health care.  His FrontLine workers helped him reestablish his benefits and he now has income for rent, food and his basic needs.  Staff recall the joyful expression on his face the first time he went shopping at Dave’s supermarket with his own income.  He had eaten leftovers and food from trash cans for so very long that it was hard for him to comprehend that he could choose whatever items he wanted to purchase.  He not only chose his own food, but splurged and bought himself some Diet Coke, which is now one of his favorite beverages.The most important change that we’ve seen with George is that he is able to fully engage in conversations with others now.  He is able to express his needs in a more productive manner. He has more insight into his symptoms and behaviors. He recognizes when he needs to see his psychiatrist and has developed coping skills to manage his symptoms effectively.  George continues to thrive in his own apartment.  It took George seven years to accept assistance from FrontLine staff.  FrontLine staff from multiple areas of the agency supported and advocated for George until he was ready to receive housing.  Without housing, George’s recovery would not have been possible.  The staff did not give up on George or believe that his challenges were too difficult to overcome.   We celebrate with George as he continues to overcome his challenges each day.