“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” – Albert Einstein

I never thought I‘d be in a situation where I would wind up on the streets not knowing where my next meal would come from, or where I’d be sleeping that night, but it happened to me on April 3rd, 2020. I was freezing and hungry sleeping under a playground play area in a park, feeling helpless and in despair. Not only that, a worldwide health crisis was about to hit Lake County.

After a few restless days and nights struggling to survive, a kindhearted neighbor came out to offer me a warm meal and a phone number and address to an organization in Lake County called PADS. I was reluctant to even think I needed help, but I decided it was either freeze to death or ask for help. I chose the latter and found my way to 1800 Grand in Waukegan and reluctantly went inside. Once inside, I was given a personal intake, offered some food and given a voucher to a motel to have a warm room, a hot shower and a real bed to sleep in.

Over the next 3 months during COVID-19, PADS not only kept me alive, PADS kept me safe from a virus that was spreading and killing thousands of people in Illinois during that time period. For that I will be forever grateful to PADS and the Case Managers for looking after me

Working with my Case Manager, Latasha, I was able to build my self-esteem back up and face each day with a positive outlook when all looked bleak. Latasha used all the resources available to also secure me my very own apartment. That’s right. My own apartment. I still can‘t believe it. I now am not homeless, nor am I hungry. I have a bright future to look forward to. Thank you, Latasha! Thank You. Thank you.

– An excerpt from a letter from Craig.