Meet Our Clients

Derrick Lyons

Years ago, Derrick Lyons was at his lowest. Struggling with being laid off, homelessness, addiction, and strained relationships with his family, Derrick’s mind wandered to dark places. “I've never really told anybody this except for my therapist. I wanted to kill myself. The doctor said that's what happens when you’re on the streets for a long time. You’re by yourself, it was hard.” Read Derrick's Story

Robin Petites

Shortly after having her son in 2019, Robin Petites found herself without stable housing. Her son stayed with his grandparents, while she couch surfed at friends’ apartments or slept in her car. Often to break up this routine, Robin relied on restaurants and other establishments she could go in and enjoy a meal. During winters especially, those businesses ensured she did not have to stay outside in the cold. But when the new coronavirus (COVID-19) prompted restrictions in 2020, many of the places Robin relied on for respite closed. On top of that, if she was going to sleep in her car, she had to find new places to safely do so, since previously populated parking lots were emptier. In short, an already challenging situation got harder. READ ROBIN'S STORY

Keisha

“I was homeless, but no one knew I was homeless. That includes my family. I think that was probably because I was embarrassed more than anything,” said Keisha. “I stayed on trains for several months, whereas sometimes I would be spending the night at a friend's house. They would assume that I was still in my own place but they didn’t know that I was staying with them because I didn’t have nowhere else.” Read Keisha's story

Bruce Pelletier

Bruce Pelletier was born and raised on Chicago’s Northwest side in the Old Irving Park neighborhood. His Chicago roots are noticeable not only because of his accent. He also has that outgoing, Midwestern charm that you would expect from any life-long resident of the city. Bruce has had his share of obstacles and challenges in life, but one of the biggest struggles he faces is his battle for stable mental health. Read Bruce's story

Jeraldine Taylor

Jeraldine Taylor is a petite, 60-year-old woman who enjoys the simple things in life. She loves to cook, read and watch TV when she gets a chance to catch up on the news or indulge in shows like Judge Mathis and Steve. These are the things that help keep her mind off the past and humble her to be grateful for where she is today.   Read Jeraldine's story

Rex Gaimari

When Rex Gaimari was homeless, he was constantly concerned about his safety. He was in and out of shelters for about 3 years, which was the direct result of losing the home he shared with his mom. Rex had been her caretaker for years, but when she passed away he needed to find a new place to live. He tried several times to move in with extended family, but nothing ever stuck. He found solace at a local shelter in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, which also gave him access to numerous social services in the area. However, it took some time for Rex to come to terms with this new way of life. Read Rex's story

Latesha Holman

Until the age of 45, Latesha never had a place of her own. For years, she relied on friends and acquaintances to have a safe place to sleep at night, but, when she wasn’t lucky enough to find someone to stay with, she resorted to sleeping on the streets of Chicago. Read Latesha's story

Donald King

When the weather is nice, Donald King bikes over to Lake Michigan to go fishing. It brings him back to memories of his childhood in New Orleans and spending time with his mother before she passed away. His charming smile and laid-back personality could fool anyone into thinking that he has lived an easygoing life, but he’s had an arduous journey that has led him to where he is today. Read Donald's Story

Daniel Garcia

The SOAR program assists people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who also have a mental illness, medical impairment, and/or a co-occurring substance use disorder. Since 2006, the SOAR program has helped with the success of over 31,000 SSI and SSDI application approvals nationwide, and Daniel Garcia, a 47 year-old Chicago native from the Humboldt Park neighborhood, is just one of the many people who have benefited. Read Daniel's Story

Glenn Baker

Glenn Baker is a 44-year-old Chicago native who currently works doing food prep for a catering company. He has a very calm demeanor, tends to keep to himself and is even self-described as anti-social. However, Baker's magnetic personality emerged when he visited the AIDS Foundation of Chicago offices early this year to share his story. Read Glenn's Story