I was evicted after family tragedy – I lost everything including my wife and kids but I’ve turned my life around
A MAN who was once homeless and lost his family has turned his life around due to a Texan program.
Christopher Jones stated that his life went downhill after his mother’s death and he developed a drug problem.
Jones said: “I spiraled all the way down, I ain’t have no hope for myself.”
He attributed his new life to the ‘Homeless No More’ program at Dallas Life, according to Spectrum News 1.
Homeless No More is a 10-month program with 26 courses on topics from financial well-being to anger management.
Jones said: “This programme, it showed me how I can have something to depend on more than just doing drugs.”
He had just graduated from his program and turned his life around by being clean from drugs for a year.
Jones added: “Right now I feel so excited.”
Homeless No More offered Jones a full-time job as an overnight security guard at Dallas Life till mid-October.
Jones also planned to reconnect with his wife and children.
He said: “I should be going home probably in the middle of October so that would give me enough time to finish saving up some money and get everything done how I need to get it done.”
“If they extending it then I am extending it, or relocating my family here, or I am going back to Arkansas.”
Dallas Life is a homeless recovery center in Dallas, Texas that offers four programs to tackle homelessness, including courses for seniors and veterans.
The center said that about 65% of their residents choose the Homeless No More program.
Executive Director Bob Sweeny showed Spectrum News 1 a wall in the center covered with plaques with graduates’ names engraved.
Sweeny said: “This is our 38th graduation in 18 and a half years and this wall represents the 673 people that have graduated from Homeless No More.
“Some of them are employees, some of them run entire departments.”
Jones expressed his gratitude for the program and the emotions he felt at his graduation.
He said: “I lost everything you know.
“And for me having to lose my kids and my wife in the process and for me to be able to lose that and conquer all that back within the months that god allowed me to do this
“It’s kind of awesome so that’s why I always smile.”