After a tough breakup, he suddenly found himself with nowhere to go. Without the income to afford rent alone, James entered New York City’s shelter system – a journey that would last nearly two years. In that time, he moved through three shelters, each one a stop on the way to stability. When he was placed at the 49th Street Men’s Shelter in Brooklyn, his heart sank. The location meant a grueling two-hour commute each way to his job in the Bronx as a truck driver for Colgate Scaffolding.

But he didn’t give up.

He showed up to work every day – never once calling out. His supervisor knew he was living in a shelter and supported him the whole way. At the 49th Street Shelter, staff recognized his drive and helped him find a path forward. With $2,000 already saved, they secured a housing deal that covered three months of rent and allowed him to finally sign a lease.

Now, he’s living in the Bronx again, just 20 minutes from work. It’s been three months in his new apartment, and life is starting to feel stable again. He turned adversity into progress – proving that with resilience and the right support, a bad situation can become a blessing.