30 Stories: Safe Haven

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. THE FOUR WALLS ARE NO LONGER CLOSING INThe Safe Haven staff look forward to hearing our morning greeting of "Hey Chief" from Dave, a 60 y.o. male resident of our program.  Dave came to Safe Haven in 2013, silent, withdrawn, and scared.  He was so depressed that he stayed in bed for days, neglecting his appearance, barely eating, and drinking beer.  But we learned that it wasn't always this way for this quiet and sensitive man.Coming from a family of veterans, Dave first seemed to have what so many of us desire-a spouse, a college degree, a house in the suburbs, a car, and a job.  Years later, he was in a homeless shelter, robbed of everything by a severe mental illness.Today, life can still be rough for Dave, but so much has changed.  He tells us that the "four walls" no longer feel like they are closing in on him.  Following his connection to Safe Haven, he has reconnected with  friends, family, life, and most importantly, himself.  He is a mentor/friend to a younger resident who faces some of the same struggles that Dave does.  Dave often talks with us about how much fun he has listening to the Rolling Stones on his MP3 player, purchased for him by his sister.  They have reconnected after 20 years of estrangement.  A buddy visits him regularly, paying it forward, citing Dave's support for him during times of trouble during high school.  Dave’s friend is no longer drinking.If you asked him, Dave will tell you that the mix of people and the connections within the Safe Haven community are comforting for his soul.  Our trips to McDonald's, annual picnics/Holiday celebrations, and nightly family style dinners all contribute to the forging of relationships.  The Safe Haven group has become a family that looks out for each other.The Safe Haven program is a small, intensive, specialized program for persons who are chronically homeless and have a severe and persistent mental illness (many also have a severe substance use disorder) that require intensive support services.  This program is ideal for individuals who are not yet ready to live on their own in an independent community setting.  The home-like atmosphere, communal meals, therapeutic activities, on-site staffing, and recreational spaces contribute to the success of the program.