Trapped in a cycle of fluctuating work hours which caused his medical assistance to be sporadic based on his shifting income, Eugene found himself unable to budget and save. If you follow New Bethany’s stories of human courage and resilience, you will recall that Eugene found himself living in a storage unit at one point. We featured Eugene about two years ago when New Bethany staff were taken by his spirit and his engagement in the community. He recently left New Bethany for his own apartment, and we wanted to share an update.
New Bethany’s Supportive Housing program provides a longer-term solution to families and individual adults affected by homelessness. Coupling stable housing with individually tailored case management, we help our residents achieve their highest level of independence and stability.
The decision to leave New Bethany wasn’t an easy one for Eugene. Having lived in our program for three years, he appreciated how well our staff treated him. He loved everyone’s positive attitudes and said, “There’s not a weak link among them.” But through our program, he realized he didn’t need as much support.
Shortly after coming to New Bethany, Eugene started a new job at QVC. The stable work schedule allowed him to begin budgeting and saving again. The feeling of security that comes with having savings, combined with our encouragement, led him to look for an apartment.
Lupita Bonilla, Residential Services Director, made sure it was known she expected everyone to achieve more, Eugene commented. In his time with us, he noticed many other residents move on to their own apartments. Eugene is continuing his involvement in local theater, having recently played in Touchstone Theatre’s Christmas Follies and participated in two acting workshops. He is thoroughly enjoying the independence of living on his own. We at New Bethany are so proud of him, and we wish him continued success!
