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The homeless veterans we serve are 70% African American, 20%
white, and 10% Hispanic. About 89% of New Directions’
veterans have used drugs for over 20 years. (The average age
of New Directions’ clients is 47.) They are addicted
to heroin, crack cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and/or alcohol.
Many suffer from ambulatory and foot problems, respiratory
problems, heart problems, HIV, Hepatitis C, and Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD). Because years of street living have
adversely affected their health, New Directions makes sure
every medical, dental, and optical need is taken care of,
with the help of the nearby Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System.
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Steve Bolden came to New Directions
in 1996 after a failed marriage and career loss; homeless
and suffering from drug and alcohol abuse. After seven
days in detox at the VA, Steve met Larry Williams, co-founder
of ND, where Steve began to learn to cope with his feelings
and to regain his pride and social skills.
Honored in 1998 at the Westside Shelter & Hunger Coalition’s
"Celebrating Success" awards breakfast, Steve
provided the quote above and today he is achieving and
continuing to give back. At UCLA, he received certification
in Alcohol & Drug Studies (1997) and the following
year was UCLA-certified for Alcohol and Drug Counseling.
For the past five years, Steve has given back to ND and
his fellow veterans through his employment as a Case Manager.
Steve has continued his education at Cal State Northridge
and additional certification programs for the Department
of Veterans Affairs. Currently he is working on a degree
in Business Administration at the University of Phoenix.
A newlywed, Steve purchased a home in February 2002.
Steve remains dedicated to his work at ND and "I
look forward to each day giving back to my fellow veteran
brothers---providing them guidance, hope and to be their
role model as they pursue their dreams, living clean,
sober and productive lives." |
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In 1988, Evans Gilmore hit
the streets after he started using cocaine and went totally
out of control. His life transformed from working, having
an apartment, a brand new car, and a girlfriend, to having
nothing in less than 2 months. Evans was homeless on Skid
Row for 3 years and ended up homeless in Pomona for the
next 14 years. He panhandled for income, lived on general
relief, and became dirty and filthy from not washing for
months on end.
During this time, he realized that he would end up in
jail or dead, so he began cycling in and out of treatment
programs. Although he would do well in each program, after
he had a job and saved money, he would relapse when the
obsession for drugs overcame him. Then he would enter
another program. He became a chronic relapser, going from
program to program, going back out, and eventually resuming
using and drinking again.
Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Evans was finally referred
to New Directions’ program for homeless veterans
with co-occurring disorders (New Directions North). He
received food, clothing, medication management classes,
computer classes, and dentures to correct his teeth--a
big boost to his appearance and self esteem.
Evans now works as a Service Coordinator at New Directions
North and gives back to the therapeutic community by helping
find sponsors for those diagnosed with substance abuse
and mental illness. He is enrolled to attend Los Angeles
City College in the fall. He thanks God for taking the
obsession for drugs away from him. |
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David McCoy, said he spent "most of my 45 years
screwing up my life." Since he was age 15, drugs
and alcohol played a major role in David’s life.
A U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam war, David, for 15
years (1986-2001) lived on the streets— in Seattle,
WA; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; Sacramento and
Los Angeles before his "planned arrest" in
Los Angeles. David finally realized that he was in very
poor health, sat down on public stairs, drank and cried.
His arrest led him to jail, where in a community newspaper,
he read a story about NEW DIRECTIONS and upon release,
a taxi took David directly to NEW DIRECTIONS.
McCoy believes that ND worked because of its structure;
he could not write his own program anymore and for the
first time went along with someone else’s agenda.
David prayed and prayed…all day long. Most importantly
to him, he learned acceptance; that he is powerless
over people, places and things and that the "ND
staff knew what I didn’t." "I learned
to care and have a better connection with my emotions,"
stated David, adding, "Caring used to get in my
way."
David has re-connected with his family, seeing his daughters
for the first time in twenty years and getting acquainted
with 3 grandchildren.
"Volunteering as a ND outreach worker," David
stated, "keeps me focused; sharing with others
helps me to listen and hear better than I’ve ever
done." Summing up his experience in the program,
David states emphatically, "It works— Give
it an honest chance and it will work for you!"
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In 1994, Juan Sanchez was homeless,
separated from his wife and two sons, walking the streets
of L.A, with fear that he would be seen, hopeless and
helpless. Then he found New Directions where "they
helped me to see the power of love and belonging, where
I learned about honesty,acceptance, forgiveness, loyalty
and commitment."
After graduating, Juan worked as a counselor at ND for
eighteen months until 1998 when, with determination and
patience, he realized his goal of employment with the
U.S. Postal Service. For over two years, he worked as
a building maintenance supervisor at a large local distribution
center. Juan’s sobriety and ND enabled him to reunite
with his family which today includes their "sobriety
son" who is six years old. Juan enjoys his work,
the benefits and the time after work to spend with his
wife and three boys (6, 11, 15).
Juan continues to give back to ND by attending alumni
activities and sharing his story. When asked why he thinks
that our program is so successful, Juan responded, "Number
one is the dedicated and caring staff." In 1994,
staff members, who themselves were recovering veterans,
caught Juan’s attention as they knew first-hand what
they were talking about—they too had come back from
the depths of despair. Today Juan says he is filled with
gratitude for the program gave him back his life and his
family, with whom he shares his learned values of honesty,
loyalty and commitment. |
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Sabrina Simon is the daughter of an Army veteran.
At the age of 13, she "wanted to do what I’d
seen the grown-ups do" so she started drinking.
Cigarettes and pills – "pink ladies"
and "yellow jackets" – soon followed.
The drugs and alcohol affected her more than she’d
reckoned. Smoking weed, ditching school – these
were a way of life. She got pregnant at 19 and had a
son.
Sabrina had a job but got hooked on codeine. One morning
she fell asleep and her head hit the typewriter. She
realized, "I wanted to get high – I didn’t
have time for work." It wasn’t long before
she was evicted. She and her son’s father separated
and he took their son – and Sabrina admits now,
"My son got in the way – all I wanted to do
was get high."
After her mother died, Sabrina "started messing
with cocaine and freebasing" – and became
homeless in the 1980s. Addicted to heroine and crack
cocaine, she lived near Western and Jefferson with "all
the dope fiends." She slept in abandoned houses,
garages, behind a taco stand, even by a fence with dogs.
"I had to get up and steal and hustle and do demoralizing
things," she says. All told, Sabrina was homeless
for 16 years. Sadly, her son got into trouble and at
the age of 14 killed someone, and served time.
Sabrina herself was jailed 8 times, for possession,
being under the influence, petty theft and violation
of parole. In her last jail term – Jan. 17 to May
15, 2001 –she learned about New Directions. A case
worker picked her up from jail and brought her to the
program. "I was absolutely willing," says
Sabrina. "I’d been out there all those years.
I didn’t even comb my hair for almost a year. For
so long, I’d needed to stop but didn’t want
to stop." This time, she "prayed to God to
be done with this; I didn’t want to do this anymore."
Although it was difficult adjusting to the structured
life in New Directions’ Mitchell House for women,
Sabrina decided, "I’m going to do it anyway.
I wanted to stay sober. What did I have to lose?"
Today, Sabrina says staying there was "the best
thing that could happen to me." She lived in Mitchell
House for five months. One day, she saw New Directions’
vocational manager Brigitte Slayton for a mock job interview.
Slayton told her about a job at UCLA Women’s Health
Care OB-GYN center. Sabrina was given a voucher for
clothing at J.C. Penney’s, and purchased clothes
for work. Slayton went with her to the interview, and
Sabrina was hired on Oct. 27, 2001. She started as file
clerk, and is now a full-time medical office clerk
"I love it!" says Sabrina. She also works
part-time at Mitchell House as a Resident Manager, and
currently lives at New Directions’ Barrington House,
which is for women in "Phase II" of the program
who have jobs and are saving money for their own place.
Sabrina reconnected with her son while in New Directions,
and is pleased that mother and son are both on a fresh
new start.
In conclusion, Sabrina says about God: "You take
one step, he’ll take two."
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New Directions, Inc.
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