When the Network for Homeless Solutions first contacted Samuel in 2014, it was learned that he suffered from a traumatic brain injury and depression exacerbated by chronic drug use. At one point, Samuel was able to maintain housing in the City and also participate in a variety of odd jobs and volunteer church activities.
But soon things took a turn for the worse. The cumulative effects of his chronic drug use caught up with him. His erratic behavior caused his roommates to evict him. He eventually lost his apartment and became estranged from his family. He became violent and blacked out after excessive drinking and drug use, to the point where others could not be around him.
Fortunately for Samuel, his link to County Mental Health made him eligible to get a housing voucher. After he lost his apartment, he was able to enter the Bridge Shelter and begin working on stabilizing his behavior and getting treatment for his chronic drug use.
Additionally, while his case manager was working hard on behavioral interventions to try to reverse negative behaviors, Samuel also found an apartment unit where vouchers were accepted. Samuel was able to move into the apartment last week with the help of Bridge Shelter partners and NHS members Trellis and Fresh Beginnings Ministries, who emptied out his storage locker and helped to move his furniture.
As staff has found in the past, getting into housing is only the beginning from those facing both mental health and substance abuse challenges. A program offering wrap-around support by both Costa Mesa outreach workers and community partners is essential for ensuring future housing stability.
Costa Mesa’s outreach team is hopeful that Samuel will have many happy years in his new apartment. NHS outreach staff and volunteers are dedicated to ensuring that his housing remains stable by offering weekly visits and assistance in managing treatment and other mental health programs.
Best of luck to Samuel as he continues on this road to recovery. He is just one of many successful clients who is benefitting from the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter and Network For Homeless Solutions, which are changing lives for the better every day.
For more information on Costa Mesa’s efforts to aide individuals experiencing homelessness, please visit our website here.