It all started with compassion.
Over a year ago, JJ was living in a tent under the bridge with his father, Bruce. They had been unhoused for a year and a half, weathering the coldest days of the winter and the hottest days of summer.
And then they met Katie, Good Sam’s Outreach Resource Coordinator.
Instead of seeing their circumstances, Katie saw two people with worth and potential. She took the time to build a relationship with the two, earning their trust one conversation at a time. Katie believed in JJ when he didn’t believe in himself, and that soon changed everything.
Bruce soon moved into our housing and before long, JJ followed. The two made a promise to each other: Bruce would rebuild his physical health, while JJ worked on his mental health and sobriety. Together, they dreamed of a better future.
Nearly a year later, that future is looking closer and brighter than ever.
Today, JJ is working at a local restaurant, where he is well-loved member of the team and making a difference in the lives of his coworkers. Every paycheck, he intentionally sets aside a large portion of his income into savings, his future goals in mind. He even started our Matched Savings Program, working towards a savings goal that we will proudly match dollar to dollar.
But perhaps the biggest success of all, he is celebrating almost a year sober, a milestone he owes to a lot of resolve and God’s grace. Recently, he was baptized at the church he attends and, “Coming up from that water it was like, man, all that sin was washed off and I see things through another light … I felt like a new man,” he said.
This new life has given him a hope he’s never had before, and that hope continues to drive him forward.
Partner with us this July during our Double Your Good campaign to help neighbors facing homelessness reach stability and find hope. You make stories of hope, healing, and second chances possible with every dollar you give.
Help us reach our $250,000 fudraising goal this month so we can continue the important work we do!