Robert Prepares for the Future

Robert is a bright 20-year-old youth. He’s articulate and well-spoken. It’s hard to believe that he has spent time living on the streets. “I was on the streets for about two months. I was living anywhere and everywhere I could,” he says now.

Robert’s parents died 6 months apart. It left him with no place to go. “I didn’t know what to do. My parents were all the family I had and I didn’t know where to turn.” Robert stayed with friends when he could but, in his own words, “that can only last so long.” He says that soon he was sleeping on the beach or at bus stops.

Robert says his time on the streets was more than difficult. “It’s extremely depressing and disturbing. It uncomfortable knowing that you’ve been wearing the same clothes, that you haven’t showered. You don’t have any food or money and nowhere to turn to. It’s really lonely. It makes you really think about your life.”

Robert began to look into shelters and transitional living programs. He found that Covenant House California was exactly what he was looking for. “They had case managers to help you with your life. They had a program to help you find a job. They help you get things in order to prepare for the future. It was exactly what I needed.”

Now, Robert has participated in the job preparation program and has begun to look for work. He’s excited about working and is confident that he will find a job soon.

“If you want to get your life together, this is the perfect program.”

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