Jerry arrived at Share Our Selves in bad condition and in need of help. He had been living in his van for two years when he was assaulted, resulting in a local hospital stay. During that time, his vehicle was impounded by a neighboring police department.
He was referred to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter shortly after this and immediately expressed interest in working towards housing opportunities. To get things started, Jerry worked with his assigned case manager to get new Medicare and Medi-Cal cards.
Unfortunately, Jerry struggled with addiction and had difficulty following through on even simple tasks which were exacerbated by the fact that most of his days were spent away from the shelter.
Because the City and Mercy House operate the Bridge Shelter with a ‘Housing First Model’, Jerry’s case manager had a heart-to-heart talk with him and told him that if he didn’t commit to meet on a regular basis, that he wouldn’t successfully meet his housing goals and risk losing his bed at the facility.
After several false starts, Jerry agreed to a more consistent program and followed through with his case management action plan.
He confessed that he struggles with addiction and is tired of the life he has led. He knows that a new way of life is the only way to ensure that he does not end up in prison again.
Jerry was advised to attend outpatient clinics until a residential rehabilitation program could be arranged by case management.
Through the collaborative efforts of his case manager and his parole officer, Jerry has taken the first step toward independent living and has enrolled in a 90-day treatment program.
The compassionate team at the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter will continue to monitor Jerry’s journey to recover from addiction and help guide him on his path to independent living.
For more information and/or to donate to the Bridge Shelter, visit our website www.costamesaca.gov/homelessness or contact the shelter operators by calling 714-836-7188 ext. 222, or click here.