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Your Stories

May 9th, 2009PHCstories

We all have a story, tell us yours. A story of how you survived homelessness, or your thoughts and feelings after your first volunteer shift at PHC. Or the story of your daily interaction with the familiar homeless person on the sidewalk. Share your story below, and also read what others have to say.

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Your Stories

Jaime

Since this began, Australia has become involved in this, and my city, the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland got involved 3 yea... ...
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Since this began, Australia has become involved in this, and my city, the Gold Coast in the state of Queensland got involved 3 years ago. Tomorrow August 3rd 2010 will be our 3rd Homeless Connect here and it is growing rapidly throughout our country. My name is Jaime and this is my third year volunteering for this fantastic event. I am the team leader of the food team providing breakfast, morning tea and lunch tomorrow for over 400 guests, which include homeless people and people at risk of homelessness.

My brother and I are blown away every year by not only the people we have met along the way and the stories they share, but also by the spirit of volunteers both young and old, and the generosity shown from our city. This year, as I have just returned from setting up the event, has seen such an amazing array of donations in the form of food, clothing, toiletries and toys, it literally overwhelmed me and brought tears to my eyes.

I just want to say thank you to the people who came up with this idea, and share this little story to say that although it was formed so far away, across the ocean, it continues to affect people from all walks of life, including those in my city in this little ‘island’ we call Australia.

Keep up the great work, never give up, and enjoy every precious moment as if its your last.

Sincerely,

Jaime Benjamin
Homeless Connect
Gold Coast Team 2010.

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Gwendolyn - A rewarding feeling.

Working directly with PHC I have and hold a satisfying and rewarding feeling assisting homelessness in anyway I possibly can.... ...
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Working directly with PHC I have and hold a satisfying and rewarding feeling assisting homelessness in anyway I possibly can.

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Cee-Jay from Virginia - I made the choice to change my life forever.

In 2005 I was a homeless drug addict who had lost his family due to drug use. After going down to my lowest point I checked myself... ...
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In 2005 I was a homeless drug addict who had lost his family due to drug use. After going down to my lowest point I checked myself into the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center in Va Beach, Va. There is where I made the choice to change my life forever. After a couple of months in the program I walked away without finishing because my mind was made up and I felt that I didn’t need it any more. While I was there those few months I started looking for a job. Someone must have been praying for me because I became the arena supervisor at the ODU Ted Constant Center after being there for only 6 months. That was a blessing. While I was working there I found my own apartment where I still live to this day. In 2006 I enrolled in a class at Tidewater Community College just for informational purposes. I ended up not completing it after being shot in the middle of the semester. This is another point in my life where I didn’t understand why this had happened to me. I knew I was living a drug free life and working but as you can see, things happen. To be in a hospital for something like this inspired me even more. By 2008 I had my own t-shirt line. 2009 I started Youth Of Redevelopments Growth Empowerment Association (YORGEA INC) a Virginia nonoprofit organization. A few months later I released my new book “PARKBOYS I (Scars & Strikes)”. It’s now 2010 and my book has been out for a few months and yesterday on April 22, 2010 I attended Project Homeless Connect in Chesapeake, Virginia as a volunteer and had a chance to meet some very important people that I look forward to working with more in the near future. It’s never too late to make something out of your life!

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Stephanie - Amazing!

The stats are SO amazing!... ...
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The stats are SO amazing!

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Karen - PHC in Napa!

I just volunteered at Napa's first PHC event. I was astounded at the response from the community-- there were over hundreds of vo... ...
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I just volunteered at Napa’s first PHC event. I was astounded at the response from the community– there were over hundreds of volunteers, and more providers than I could count. The day was very fulfilling to me as a volunteer, and I know the guests found it helpful too. But I came away with a nagging concern–would this be a one-time event that would leave the community thinking, “Now we’ve dealt with the homeless problem in Napa”? As great as this day was, it needs to happen on a regular basis, as it does in San Francisco. Even more importantly, I hope it serves to remind us that we need to tackle the systemic, underlying causes of homelessness. That’s a much harder issue to tackle, I know, but let’s not let our good feelings about a one-day event distract us from the hard work of changing a broken economic system that seems, by its very nature, to produce a group of people with no resources to meet their most basic needs.

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Kendra - Five years of PHC.

These tears, which you can't see, are tears of happiness. The past five years have been, without a doubt, the happiest of my ... ...
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These tears, which you can’t see, are tears of happiness. The past five
years have been, without a doubt, the happiest of my life… AHHHH, life.
Yes, I now have a life. I no longer ‘exist’, I live. No more shall I be
known as ‘The Thoreauvian Exister’. No No. Now I LIVE !!!
Like so many others, I owe you, and ALL the volunteers of Project Homeless
Connect so much more than you will ever know (although, as you’ve
experienced, I often do try to express my feelings). I thank you all, each
and every one of you, from the bottom of my heart.
As my five year anniversary with PHC approaches, all thoughts of
“retiring” are slowly dwindling away. Alas…there are still many people
in our lovely City, AND throughout the world, who still require the
incredibly diverse and helpful services that Project Homeless Connect
offers. Many of these services, as you know, are simply not available
elsewhere. I have been told so many incredible stories by our clients. A
simple thing, like eyeglasses, has the power to change a life. Our Legal
Department has allowed others to stop ‘dodging the law’, and allowed them
to get on with their surprisingly productive lives. Free banking services,
employment opportunities, veteran services, the list keeps growing…and
growing…all to help a small number of destitute human beings. At each
and every event, we ALL walk away feeling just a bit more human. Clients,
volunteers, we all do. And there’s nothing wrong with that. (sorry…the
tears are back again)

As you know, we could not hold this event without the volunteers. After
five years, and THIRTY PHC’s, we still have ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND
FIFTY civic minded volunteers from all over the Bay Area step up and
volunteer a day to help others…that is truly stunning. AND…that is
where the magic occurs. Many people are angry at the homeless, possibly
because they have never been offered an opportunity to help solve the
problem. When they ‘connect’ (I love that word) with a client in a one on
one situation, showing that client they would be welcomed back into
society, trust is established. And magic occurs. As a former client, I
know firsthand.

In closing, as long as there is a “homeless problem”, I will be there.
Truly, I would LOVE to be unemployed in the near future, but retire? NEVER
!!! We’ve still got work to do. Let’s get to it. Let’s end homelessness.
As the Admiral said, “make it so, Commander”.

with much love,
kendra

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Linda - My first PHC.

I was awed by my first experience at PHC. I found that the simple act of touching a person to whom normally I may not give a seco... ...
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I was awed by my first experience at PHC. I found that the simple act of touching a person to whom normally I may not give a second glance, softened and warmed the very short relationship we engaged in that day. I was humbled and changed by that. The eye to eye contact, the smiles, the fact that I helped someone feel a little better about themselves that day, that moment, was so much more of a gift to me than anything I could have given away.

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Susan - A safe place.

I am grateful there is a venue where I can offer my help to those who need it. PHC events provide a safe place for we volunteers t... ...
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I am grateful there is a venue where I can offer my help to those who need it. PHC events provide a safe place for we volunteers to help those who need it and a safe place for the clients who get a brief respite from the streets. As a native San Franciscan I am proud to be part of something that is so in the spirit of St. Francis, for whom our City is named.

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Kelly - A moving experience.

I have volunteered many times at Project Homeless Connect always in the Check Out area. I enjoy talking with the clients and reach... ...
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I have volunteered many times at Project Homeless Connect always in the Check Out area. I enjoy talking with the clients and reaching out to touch them by shaking their hands.

This last PHC was a very moving experience. I had a woman sit down in front of me, and started crying. I reached out and took both of her hands and said “tell me why you are crying.” She said she was overwhelmed with her experience and didn’t realize so many people cared about her, especially me!

I lost it! She and I sat there looking at each other crying! I said we needed to compose ourselves so I could ask her the questions we ask during a client’s check out.

I said things would get better for her, if she was willing to work at it. She said she didn’t know how things would get better, but because of the people at PHC she now knows that people care and that her situtation would get better.

It was then that I realized I wasn’t just volunteering, I WAS MAKING A DIFFERENCE in this person’s life. It’s not just the clients that get something from PHC - I get far more than I give.

See you at the next PHC-
Kelly

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Maria - Thanks mostly to Larkin Street Youth Services.

I was born in Veracruz, Veracruz Mexico. That I can remember I was about 5 when my mom and I left for what was to be an adventure... ...
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I was born in Veracruz, Veracruz Mexico. That I can remember I was about 5 when my mom and I left for what was to be an adventure to remember. My mom, Rosa Santana, never introduced me to any of my family nor did she ever speak about them. I’ve always wondered who my grandparents are or if I have any cousins, aunts or uncles. My mom was a drug-addict and alcoholic. She was high pretty much day and night. Unfortunately, it progressively grew worse as I got older. From just coke and beer she went to heroin and hard liquors. Although my mom was foolish to do drugs she was definitely book smart and taught me to read young, which I’m grateful for. I spent most of my time reading and wandering. My mom would do her thing and I’d go sit under the sun somewhere and read. When the sun went down I’d go wander long enough to endure most of the night alone until I knew it was time for my mom to get back to our “campsite” (because we never had an actual home). When my mom was angry she’d say all kinds of stuff to me. In those moments I was nothing but baggage to her so I would prefer to be alone either way. I never wanted to distort my image of her so I pretended she never said a thing to me and went about my life. Every day before I’d leave our “campsite” she’d tell me, “Nina, no le hables a nadie que todos te van a chingar.” (Little girl don’t talk to anyone because everyone will screw you over.) It was obvious she didn’t trust a soul. When I was 10 yrs old she decided I was old enough to bring some money “home.” We were living in Tijuana at the time. A few nights a week she’d put me up for sale so she can satisfy her cravings. I loved my mom so I never complained. I was 10 yrs old and didn’t understand what was going on. I knew it felt wrong but I loved her so much I wanted to see her be still and smile. Drugs did that for her, I couldn’t.

May 5, 2002 I was coming “home” to our van in Tijuana. When I opened the door I saw my mom laying there with blood everywhere. She had been stabbed to death. I was 12 yrs old and didn’t know what to do. I was clearly afraid, alone and I was lost. My mother, despite what she did, was my world and my everything. She was my partner and my soul and someone had taken her from me. For all I knew they would do the same to me. I had no one but her so I decided to leave there. Fortunately, every night before I went to sleep I would steal a little money from my mom so I would have something to eat the next day and some money to give her when we would really need it. So I saved most of everything I stole from her. I used that money a month later to get a coyote and cross to the USA. Why? I’m not sure. I didn’t have this American dream or anything like that. Just decided it might be a good idea. Little did I know I was in for quite a treat.

It was no first class trip here to the USA. It was one of the scariest moments of my life. We swam across the Tijuana River at night then ran for our lives as the border patrol were shooting at us from behind. I was small and dark so I could hide easily. I truly thought my life would end there. I ran without looking back and kept running for what seemed like hours. I was running for so long I didn’t realize no one had been following me for a long time. The fear of dying is what was really chasing after me and that kept me going. There was no turning back for me I thought.

I walked for weeks after that. I ate roaches, rats; whatever I could find. I was used to the hunger. So I could go a few days without eating till I finally could no longer bear it. My goal was to head as far from the border as I knew possible. I landed in Beverly Hills after about 3 weeks. It was late July, early August. It was hot just how I liked it. But I was in the wrong place. I had never experienced racism before and I was in for a really nice surprise in Beverly Hills. I had never been so badly beaten like I was there. How could another human being abuse of a child the way they did to me is beyond me. It was as though I was trash. From then on I hated white people. I hated Americans and couldn’t believe I spent all my savings on this piece of s–t of a country with these pendejos. I had just turned 13 yrs old and was an angry kid. I needed to head out of Beverly Hills and go somewhere safer. I found Skid Road. That was home for me. An infestation of drugs, prostitution, homeless junkies and hopeless souls was home for me. Even though I wasn’t a junkie and I didn’t even as so much pick up a cigarette, being there made me feel safer than ever. I stayed and found myself wandering after a few weeks and I found Ecko Park. Latinos! I made “friends” with some of the wrong people and found ways to get back at white people. The pistol became my safeguard. We would do drive bys in the hills and Santa Barbara. Anywhere white people dominated we were there ready to get revenge. After a few months of that I didn’t want to keep doing it. Hurting people was no way to live and no way to get justice. I stopped walking around with a pistol and went back to my reading. The guys didn’t have any problem with it. They knew I was a smart ass. I was a quiet one. I didn’t talk to no one, I never laughed, I never cried. I just did what I had to do. What I thought I had to do. I was growing so I needed new clothes. I stole my first pair of pants from Armani Exchange and had no idea what I was doing. I laugh now because I had absolutely no idea Armani was such a big name; I just needed some pants. I ate from garbage dumps from the back of restaurants because that was the freshest food I could get. I slept inside garbage dumps on rainy days and outside on benches and parks when it wasn’t. It was very different from Mexico. My mom always chose where we slept and I always slept close to her. Now it was just me. I had to choose where I would sleep and had no one to keep me safe. But I needed someone… So I started to say good night to the moon and good morning to the sun. I told stories to the stars and giggled when I’d see one twinkle. When the stars weren’t out I felt sad and alone. I developed this habit from my mom because she would sometimes talk to them. She said they watched us as we slept. I know now that maybe she was just hallucinating. Nonetheless, it stayed with me and it made me feel human.

This is how my life played out for years until I decided to leave LA and venture into Seattle in 2009. I heard I could work there but that didn’t happen. Seattle was cold and rainy and I hated it. I left there in April and at this time in my life I had given up. F–k America. No one cared about whom I was or where I was going. I wanted to go back to Mexico. I had money for a bus ticket to San Francisco. When I arrived I went straight to the library which was my daily sanctuary anywhere I was. I could probably read and write english better than most American pendejos here and probably knew more American history than the average citizen. The SF library in downtown gave me a piece of paper with directions to shelters and food pantries. I was only concerned about feeding myself. I never went to shelters. But a light bulb went on and I thought maybe if I went to the shelter and they knew I was illegal they would deport me. I went straight to Larkin Street Youth Services on Ellis St. They never mentioned deporting me instead they wanted to help me stay. I was scared. I sincerely thought maybe they were lying to me and wanted to torture me before they sent me off to some prison and were playing nice. But it never happened… They gave me hope and safety, food and shelter, guidance and support and helped me understand that I was not alone. I learned I could get my GED and go to school and that I could live here and be happy. There were ways to be a healthy, stable individual and that amazed me. I received my GED in two weeks. I didn’t study. I simply went. In the process I decided to set out for a job. I now work at one of the best restaurants in the USA and love my job. My life has changed drastically. I am discovering who I am and discovering the world around me. I talk to people now, sometimes too much. I seem to never shut up. I’ve been quiet all these years; I want to talk now. I want to share my life story and want others to know there is hope for a better life. I’m hoping to get into college in San Francisco somewhere and want to one day run a restaurant. Who knows… for now I’m enjoying living in a home, working a great job, and living better than I ever thought I would. Thanks mostly to Larkin Street Youth Services. That’s my story… but the book isn’t quite done. Life has just begun…

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Ian - A new perspective on the issue.

My PHC experience has truly been a humbling experience. I have a totally new perspective on the issue of homelessness and the det... ...
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My PHC experience has truly been a humbling experience. I have a totally new perspective on the issue of homelessness and the detrimental effect it has on those who experience it. Although this job can be challenging at times, seeing the smiles and grateful souls at our events makes it all worth while. I think those of us who are fortunate owe it to the less fortunate to help them get on their feet because if the roles were reversed, we¹d want the same. The friends I have here are one of a kind and I can¹t picture life without them. I love serving the clients we serve and I especially love the wonderful team that makes this project possible.

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Ed - A simple act.

At my first Project Homeless Connect I learned that the simple act of handing out a bottle of water can mean a lot to someone in n... ...
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At my first Project Homeless Connect I learned that the simple act of handing out a bottle of water can mean a lot to someone in need.

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Phil - Living my values.

PHC lets me live my values, the values I came to SF to act on.... ...
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PHC lets me live my values, the values I came to SF to act on.

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Yonat - A caring community.

Project Homeless Connect and the PHC team are so inspiring! It makes San Francisco feel like a small town with a caring and tight... ...
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Project Homeless Connect and the PHC team are so inspiring! It makes San Francisco feel like a small town with a caring and tight knit community. I am so grateful to be a part of this ongoing and ever changing effort. Thank you.

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Judith - A sense of community.

Project Homeless Connect has given me a sense of community I had never felt before. The care and compassion is deeply moving. I ... ...
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Project Homeless Connect has given me a sense of community I had never felt before. The care and compassion is deeply moving. I feel so blessed to be able to work on this project and am deeply grateful for this experience of life.

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Mara - A new appreciation.

PHC has given me a new appreciation of San Francisco and it¹s divers people. All doing things to make a better world. Finding s... ...
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PHC has given me a new appreciation of San Francisco and it¹s divers people. All doing things to make a better world. Finding solutions, imagining a better life for all.

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Elayne - Part of the change.

PHC is validation that this world of often times chaos and destruction,there truly are people who care and want to make,even ever ... ...
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PHC is validation that this world of often times chaos and destruction,there truly are people who care and want to make,even ever so small, a
positive difference for humanity. I feel privileged and blessed to be a part of this change.

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Henry - Back on track.

PHC pointed me in the right direction, and gave me a chance to put my life back on track. My life is dedicated to helping others.... ...
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PHC pointed me in the right direction, and gave me a chance to put my life back on track. My life is dedicated to helping others.

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Sharon - All living things are interwove.

Marcus Aurelius's statement that "all living things are interwoven each with the other; the tie is sacred, and nothing, or next to... ...
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Marcus Aurelius’s statement that “all living things are interwoven each with the other; the tie is sacred, and nothing, or next to nothing, is alien to ought else.” PHC offers all of us a time and place to be interwoven with one another in kindness and a spirit of great expectations.

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Leigh Anne - I guess you could say I'm a regular.

Over the past two years, Project Homeless Connect has come to mean a great deal to me. One day every other month I get to step ou... ...
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Over the past two years, Project Homeless Connect has come to mean a great deal to me. One day every other month I get to step out of my regular routine and give back to this city that I love. It’s always a bit overwhelming to see all of the volunteers who come out, and all of the services that are volunteered, but even more overwhelming to see how much it is needed. I’m always touched by our clients who thank us profusely for something as simple as a little extra mayonnaise for their sandwich,and it always breaks my heart to see the families and children who come in for help. Every outreach is different; the day can be exhausting, but you go home tired but happy to have contributed. It’s a very humbling and grounding experience; I look forward to every Outreach.

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Sam - A great nonprofit!

I volunteered at my first PHC event a year and a half ago and was AMAZED by the number, and variety of services offered. The other... ...
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I volunteered at my first PHC event a year and a half ago and was AMAZED by the number, and variety of services offered. The other main thing I noticed was that the volunteers were well integrated into the consumer population and were, for the most part, providing a much needed service to many clients, someone to talk to. I have since had the privilege to intern with PHC. It has been a wonderful, eye-opening, experience that I have learned a lot from. A great Nonprofit!

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**REGISTRATION FOR GOLDEN GATE PARK CONNECT, WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH, IS VIA PHONE ONLY AT 415-503-2190. PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.**

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