Todd lost his housing in 2024 and needed help from Our House to get back on his feet. “I was renting a house, and one of the co-owners passed away, and I was forced to move. I moved in with a former coworker for awhile, but it wasn’t a good fit, and I had to leave. I went to another shelter for awhile and was waiting to get in to Our House. Once I came here, things started falling into place the way I needed them to.”
Todd started out in our job training program, working in our resale store for his first month, then was able to get a job as a bus driver for a few months, but didn’t feel it was the best fit for him. So with help from the Career Center, he learned about and applied for a job at Baptist Health. “The job had great benefits, a little better pay, and they would help me finish school. I applied, had a couple of interviews, and then got hired in the ER, where I’ve been working for the past three months. I stock medical supplies, answer a lot of phone calls from people checking on their family members, doctors calling in. I distribute medication to nurses. I take patients blankets, water, anything they need. It’s very busy, very fast paced. I love it. I work 12 hour shifts. You see all kinds of stuff, it’s very interesting. You see a lot of tough situations. But you can support people during hard times. It’s a very rewarding job. It’s a future for me.”
Todd is an active part of shelter life and also is supportive to his fellow residents. “With my good job, I’ve been blessed to finally get a car. I’ve helped people get to work, because I know how hard it is to not have car. I’m helping a friend visit her father in the nursing home later today. It’s all about giving back.”
Todd is currently looking for apartments and is excited to move back into his own place. He is also excited to go back to school, with help from his employer, to become a respiratory therapist. And he wants to come back to Our House and volunteer, from a desire to give back and help others as he has been helped.
“Our House has been huge for me. There’s not a lot of places where you can save and get that nest egg to help you once you get out of here. Rent and stuff is so high nowadays. Our House helps you make money and put most of that money into savings, so you can hit that reset button in your life.”