Housing changed everything for Clarence
When Clarence lost his home, he lost his self-esteem with it. He felt so ashamed of having nowhere to stay that he cut ties with his family for eight years.
“I didn’t want my children to know I was homeless all that time,” said Clarence. “I didn’t want them to see me the way I was. When you get to be my age, you don’t like asking people for things.”
Alone at 67 years old with only the clothes on his back, Clarence found himself living in the rain, under bridges, behind buildings and on concrete floors, constantly battling sickness. He was at the point of giving up – until he discovered Flagler Housing & Homeless Services at St. Joseph’s Villa.
Housing Stabilization Case Manager Andrea Alston began working with him right away.
“My life began when I found Flagler,” he said. “I’d probably be in jail or dead today if it wasn’t for them.”
Andrea helped Clarence apply for jobs as the Flagler team searched for an apartment. Clarence didn’t have a formal education, but overcame that barrier with Andrea’s support. He gained employment in jail and prison ministry, which he sees as a way to pay it forward. Now he has a comfortable home, a job he loves, and hope for his future.
Today, at 75, Clarence has reconnected with his children and invited them to his new home. In a place he can call his own, he will meet his grandson for the first time.
“I have so much joy. I know love now, and I’m going to share it.”
Flagler has found safe, stable housing for more than 3,000 youth, adults and seniors like Clarence through rapid re-housing. Rapid re-housing works because it addresses people’s most basic and urgent need of housing first. Additional services including short-term financial assistance, case management, employment training, and budgeting assistance are available to help individuals and families remain housed and live healthy, independent lives.