Although Stan’s Homeless
His Future’s Not Hopeless

For most of us, holding a job and having a place to live go hand in hand. For Stan, it’s either one or the other. Stan makes that choice every day and, unfortunately, if he makes the right one, life on the street becomes a reality every time he clocks out from work.

Young and Homeless

Stan was kicked out of his own house when he was 18-years-old. Nowhere to go, and no one to turn to, Stan began the hardships of life on the streets.

“I started living on the streets and sleeping under bridges,” says Stan, now 20. “I was homeless.”  

He stayed at a shelter the first night and “followed the crowd” the next day to United Methodist Urban Ministry’s Drop-In Center, a United Way-funded program.

“We provide a place where the homeless can come and clean up,” says Renee Jones, case manager at United Methodist Urban Ministry’s Drop-In Center. “It’s a place for them to take care of basic needs while they’re trying to get back on their feet.”

A Place to Call Home

The Drop-In Center provides services essential to meeting basic needs, including the use of a phone for outgoing calls and messages. It was the phone service that Stan found particularly useful in his efforts to turn his life around.

Stan began calling businesses from the listing of employment opportunities posted at the Drop-In Center. He was able to leave the Center’s number for companies to call him back and was able to use the phone as a way to follow up on job opportunities. The phone helped Stan get his foot in the door. He then used the Center’s showers and laundry facilities to clean up before he applied for the jobs in person.

“Through these services, the homeless can maintain some of their dignity, especially during the job search process,” says Jones.

With the help of this United Way-funded program, Stan was able to find a part-time job. His job has allowed him to buy more clothes suitable for his job and is currently trying to save enough money to get an apartment.

Making the Right Choice

For now, however, Stan still must make the choice between a job or safety and shelter for the night. Because of the hours at his new job and the limited space that shelters have to work with, nearly all the shelters are full by the time Stan arrives each night.

Stan remains strong despite his current situation. Until he’s able to get an apartment he stays on the street and comes to the Drop-In Center every morning, receiving encouragement to keep going from Jones and others that work there. He knows that without this program he wouldn’t even be on the road to independence.

“Things are starting to happen…slowly,” Stan says, with a hint of discouragement behind the optimism in his voice. “I’m working toward a normal life. No one should have to go through this.” 

Call United Way of the Plains at 267-1321 to find out more about how your money is helping our community.

United Way-Funded Programs That Care

United Way of the Plains is committed to focusing on the issues that the community cares about most.

United Methodist Urban Ministry’s Drop-In Center is a day shelter for homeless adults that provides case management, daily meals, showers, laundry, storage, phone and mail services.

Meeting Basic Needs is one of five pressing community issues United Way-funded programs address to meet multiple needs in this community.