Larry's Long Road Home
"He plans to hang his hat collection in the hallway, make the space as comfortable as possible, and set up a small Christmas tree for the first time since entering prison 16 years ago."
It’s been 16 years since Larry has lived in a home of his own, but this is now changing. This month (December 2024), Larry will move into a one-bedroom apartment with the help of a housing voucher.
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After completing a 14-year prison sentence, Larry became homeless. With nowhere to go, he found himself living in his car near a Walmart. Larry was there for one year, and it was during this period that HomeFirst’s Outreach Team connected with him. They conducted a vulnerability assessment that placed him in the queue for housing, and one month later he was offered housing placement at BHC Mabury, one of our interim housing sites, and the first housing site of its kind to be built in San Jose.
Edith Blanco (BHC Program Manager), Larry, Vice Mayor Kamei, and Bea Ramos (VP of Emergency Housing)
Larry has lived at BHC Mabury for one year. While residing there, he has cooked meals for residents he connects with, made visits to the flea market across the street, and kept up with his favorite sports teams – the San Jose Sharks, the Dallas Cowboys, the San Francisco Giants, and the Golden State Warriors. He was also persistent in his effort to find a permanent home, always keeping his housing goal in mind, and meeting regularly with his case manager to ensure his goal would become a reality.
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Larry is looking forward to the move, as his new apartment is a one-bedroom with a balcony. He plans to hang his hat collection in the hallway, make the space as comfortable as possible, and set up a small Christmas tree for the first time since entering prison 16 years ago. HomeFirst will also give him a package of household essentials provided by our donors, which will help him get settled in his new space.
Just as Larry is looking forward to his next chapter, HomeFirst is too! His journey from prison to homelessness to permanent housing shows the power of second chances and the role that our programs and donors play in helping clients gain housing security.
Last Updated 2024