Today’s blog post is the last in our series about what it is like for a fictionalized guest to walk through the program at Nest Community Shelter. Throughout September, we’ve broken down John’s journey from a programming point of view and John’s point of view to give a picture of what it is like for Nest Community Shelter guests. As we conclude this series, we hope that you have gained a deeper understanding of Nest and the work we do. With that said, let’s hear the conclusion of John’s story about his stay at Nest Community Shelter.
John’s Story:
Guess where I am talking to you from, my new apartment. It’s not much, but it’s mine, well, mine and Dave’s, the friend I made at Nest. We decided to rent an apartment as roommates, and it has worked out pretty well. The last time I spoke to you, I’d just gotten a job in the warehouse, it was my third week at Nest, and it really felt like things were coming together for me.
As I continued to work at my new temp job at the warehouse, the team at Nest really worked with me to understand needs versus wants. Man, I swore that when I moved in, the one thing I wanted to buy right away was a new PlayStation 5. I sold my last PlayStation when things got bad. The team at Nest helped me realize that it was more important to secure a long-term roof over my head than to achieve this goal on the first day in my new place. They helped me learn how to budget for more consistent cash flow, and that was a big change from how I’d lived before. They also showed me how to save for the things I wanted while ensuring that I could pay for the things I needed.
I continued to work and save my money as time went on, and in my fifth week at Nest, something really great happened: the warehouse offered me a permanent full-time job. I wasn’t a temp anymore. Now I really had stability. At the same time, my friend Dave got a job too; he got a job at a garage, and he’s a good mechanic. That night, as we ate dinner, Dave proposed that we be roommates. He’d be making good money too, and he had a bit saved from a small restaurant job he had before. We talked about it a lot to make sure that we both knew how to budget and that we had the same goals. We’d be friends no matter what; I just needed a stable roommate.
A week later, we began to look for an apartment. Nest helped us with ideas of where to look and made some phone calls on our behalf. We both have good jobs and are continuing to build a great community. Dave and I even went to a few of the church services from some of the volunteer groups that came through Nest.
At the end of our sixth week, we got the news we’d been waiting for: we had an apartment! A roof over our heads. It wasn’t big or fancy, but it was ours. Nest helped connect us with some of their partners who donated some furniture and most of our basic needs. Everyone was so happy for us, and it felt like an immense accomplishment for Dave and me. All of the volunteers and Nest staff were so happy for us.
That first night in our apartment, I don’t think I slept at all. I cried, and then laughed, all happy emotions that I’d made it and I’d gained a life-long friend along the way, my roommate Dave.
We’ve been in our apartment for a little over a month, and things are going great. I was able to get my car back too, and Dave is helping me fix it. We’ve been back to Nest once, to help cook dinner. That was a surreal but wonderful experience to give back to Nest. Some of the guys on the men’s floor remembered us, and I was able to encourage them, as other volunteers had done for me. Nest is a really special place that cares about me, and what happened to me. They gave me the tools I needed to rebuild my life, and I never felt like I was doing it alone. They are my community, and I am so grateful for them.
In Conclusion:
While John’s story is completely fictionalized, we see guests like John every day. John’s fictionalized stay with Nest lasted about 45 days, which is our average length of stay for most of Nest’s guests. No two guests are the same, nor are their needs, or the timeframe in which they’ll need support. Some guests stay less than 45 days, while others need more time. Regardless of the length of stay, Nest’s mission is to reconnect our guests to their community. We hope that John’s story has demonstrated this, and if it has encouraged you to volunteer your time at Nest, don’t hesitate to reach out. You could be a key part in someone’s story, just like John’s.
