Eight years ago, Randy was experiencing homelessness. He had hurt his back at work, and over time he became addicted to the painkillers the doctor prescribed. He tried multiple times to come off the drugs, but he wasn’t able to. Eventually, he lost his housing. He ended up staying on the streets, and then at a shelter. He lived in a room with 17 other men, double-bunked.
There were only two staff at the shelter that helped people get permanent housing. They were so overworked that most people didn’t even know those staff existed. But Randy happened to walk by the office one day, and they reached out to him. As a single person, it can be easy to slip through the cracks. But they helped Randy find a home with Aeon, and to get other support through Aeon’s partner, Simpson Housing Services.
When Randy finally got a home, he was clean within just a few months. Having a home with Aeon helped him get care for both his physical and mental health. It showed him what sobriety could look like, and that there was a chance for him, too.
“I remember my first day. I remember what it was like, knowing that this was my place, for the first time. Simpson gave me some things to help me – cleaning supplies, blankets, a pillow – and for the first time, it was my pillow. It was my bed. It was my room. It wasn’t much, but it was mine. Together, Aeon and Simpson saved my life.” — Randy
Having supportive housing changed everything for Randy. It gave him a home and another chance at a life he would be proud of. It gave him the opportunity to get well.
