Faces of The Beacon Alex
This July will mark three years of sobriety for Alex who overcame his addiction but remained pinned to the criminal justice system until just this year. Alex’s recovery from drugs was clouded with a staggering number of tickets he had accumulated simply by being homeless. All told, he had more than $30,000 in fines that were keeping him from moving forward with his life. Thankfully, Alex was referred to our Beacon Law program and worked with our Managing Attorney who cleared every one of those tickets, removing his legal barriers and allowing him a fresh start. Alex purchased his own vehicle soon after and most recently passed his level II certification for Nondestructive Testing (NDT), qualifying him as an NDT technician with his employer.
Darryl
Living on the streets for years is hard on the body, the mind and the soul. Darryl remembers cold rainy nights wrapped in a blanket, walking the city blocks to keep warm. During the day, he was able to take refuge at The Beacon and Darryl’s basic needs were met, but he yearned for something more -- the stability of a routine, the safety of a home. Darryl knew the housing process would be a long one, but he remained patient and hopeful after his first meeting with the housing assessor at The Beacon. The good news came in early November of last year when Darryl was referred to a housing navigator who helped him move into an apartment on the 23rd of that same month. Settled and content, he has started reconnecting with family members and embracing a life filled with hope. 6
