Success Stories
Success Stories
Youth 1
After spending a year living in her car and couch surfing, she was able to enter a rapid rehousing program, however she continued to struggle as issues with her car began affecting her employment. Now risking eviction, she reached out to Doors of Change for assistance. Through our case management program, we were able to work in creating a simple budget that would help her cut costs and get back on track. She worked closely with her case manager and met regularly to discuss her progress with goals, barriers in front of her, and what next steps she should take to create stability. Since working with Doors of Change, she has enrolled in school, found a new job, and has been working on her communication skills and tools to deal with stress management.
Youth 2
After being homeless for 2 years and facing family rejection, trans hate, and domestic violence, she fled Florida for San Diego, CA in search of shelter, HIV medical referrals, and gender affirming care. Once here, she was able to connect with Doors of Change case managers who provided her with groceries and helped her find shelter. With continued support from her new case managers, she was able to move out of her temporary shelter into permanent LGBT supportive housing that offers services like HIV testing and management. Thanks to having supportive services and stable shelter, PN was able to find employment and is now working a few hours per week.
Youth 3
She moved to San Diego in hopes of making a life for herself. Unfortunately, an abusive relationship left her alone, in a big city, without money or support. Luckily, she was able to successfully connect with Doors of Change who provided her with mental health support, gas cards and vehicle repairs so she could safely make it back home to her family in Texas. Now she has a full time job, is continuing her mental health care, and is surrounded by love and support.
Youth 4
After many years of suffering from trauma and abuse by his paternal figures, he found himself homeless at a young age. Having been diagnosed with autism, he faced many additional barriers beyond the normal unhoused youth. Not willing to let any obstacles stand in his way, he was able to connect with experts that helped him with mental health services and transitional housing. However, after suffering with car issues, consistent transportation became an issue that was now preventing him from getting to his appointments safely and successfully. This is where Doors of Change stepped in. We were able to provide him with the car repairs he needed to get back on the road. Within 24 hours, he was back on track with his mental health appointments and moving forward successfully. According to him, he couldn’t believe he was able to get such a rapid response to his issue and has said that Doors of Change has literally changed his life for the better.
Youth 5
She is a youth who is coping with the loss of her father and has been struggling to maintain the constant rising cost of gas/rent in San Diego. She has two jobs but is assisting her mother and autistic brother. Her car broke down recently while traveling with her mom and brother to his appointments and was faced with quitting one of the two jobs as she was unable to travel without a car. She reached out to Doors of Change after seeing another youth receive car repair assistance and was able to get brand new brakes for her car. She expressed that she never had anything brand new and how it was a blessing that she is able to keep her jobs just in time for Christmas.
Youth 6
Being homeless from the age of 16 hasn’t stopped him from finishing high school and enrolling in college. After working hard between classes, he was able to save up and purchase a much-needed car. However, after the car broke down, he found it difficult to keep up with his school and work schedules, as transportation became an obstacle. He reached out to different programs for bus passes but was unable to get enough to travel back and forth from school and work. He connected with Doors of Change case management and was able to get his brakes and tires replaced within a day. Now that he no longer has to worry about his car, he has started saving for housing.
Youth 7
She has been a client of Doors of Change for 2 years. She was formerly homeless due to aging out of the foster system and felt she had nowhere to go. She was working to overcome previous traumas and working through her mental health and substance use disorders. Through Doors of Change she was able to successfully get connected to mental health supports, substance use disorder treatment, and has now been housed successfully.
Youth 8
She came to Doors of Change after being pregnant and having to live in her car with her infant son and boyfriend. After moving to San Diego, her and her family’s county benefits were frozen and they were unable to find shelter. Doors of Change case managers were able to provide them with gas cards, groceries, and a laptop, while also referring her family to a local shelter. This support allowed her boyfriend the opportunity to find employment through Amazon, while she focused on attending doctor’s appointments for her and her children. Now, they are working on saving money to pay down debt.
Youth 9
She is young woman with 2 young children. Having left home at age 17, she couch surfed until she was accepted into housing. However, not having a stable income made it difficult for her to maintain it. After facing a 3-Day Pay or Quit notice, she reached out to Doors of Change for rental assistance. We were able to pay the back rent and assist her with past due utilities and groceries.
Ex-Homeless Youth
Doors Of Change gave me an opportunity to change my life and be self-sufficient.
– Thomas –
Tyler-
Homeless 12-16; Mom was a Meth Addict. Been Self- Sufficient for over 16 years; Awarded Employee of the Year at Petco Park; Working at AMR as a Supervisor for over 8 years.
Justine-
Homeless from 12-16; Step father Physical & Sexual Abuse; Self Sufficient for over 16 years; Owned Jewelry Business for 15 years. Graduated UC Santa Barbara & then Graduated Law School.
Mathew-
Homeless at 16 due to physical abuse of father; self sufficient over 16 years; saved $20,000 and graduated from UC Riverside with computer science & engineering. Makes $100,000 plus living in Northern California, Father of 2 year old son.
Alonzo-
Homeless at 19 due family abuse: Saved over $17,000 working and self sufficient for over 8 years.
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