Eric

Eric was raised by his mother. His father was non-existent in his life. After graduating high school, he joined the Navy as a culinary specialist. Shortly after leaving the Navy, all his hopes and dreams went up in smoke when a condo fire destroyed everything he owned and caused the end of his relationship with the girl he lived with. Broken and defeated, Eric quit his job and wondered where he lost control of his life. When the police came to investigate a noise complaint, Eric unloaded his frustrations on them. Intoxicated and belligerent he ended up in jail. “It was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was hanging around with the wrong people and getting into trouble. It wasn’t an easy path, but it helped me turn my life around.”

After leaving jail he stayed with a friend but it didn’t work out and he ended up on the streets. One day on his way to the library to fill out an application for college, Eric ran into someone who told him about The Union Mission. “It wasn’t my intention to be homeless, but I had no place to eat, shower, or rest my head. Coming here was a blessing.”

Eric went to school during the week and worked nights at a restaurant—a job he eventually lost because “I got in with the wrong crew. I thought, ‘how can this be happening again?’” He wanted to give up until his Case Manager told him about the David Development Program. “I thought it would probably be a lot of rules, but I decided to check it out.”

It was a good decision for Eric. “There are some great people at the Mission. They encouraged me, making sure I was on the right path God wants me to follow. The David Program gives me a sense of what I didn’t have—like family members who care about me—people who will listen and keep me going. I never had a father figure and Mr. Metcalf (Program Manager) is that for me. He’s showing me what it means to push towards excellence, to continue to go above and beyond.”

Today, Eric is working two jobs, attending college, and saving money to pay his jail fines and get his driver’s license reinstated. He has a place of his own, and he still gets together with the other Davids wanting to show them it’s possible to succeed. “Work hard and never give up,” he says. “There’s a return for those willing to do that. Some days I feel like I can’t do it. Then one of the staff knows something is wrong, and they listen. There’s a lot of caring people here.”

Eric’s life is back on track, thanks to your support and the godly help he found in his time here at The Union Mission. “If it wasn’t for the Mission I’d probably be homeless on the street…. I was doing everything I wanted for myself, but nothing the Lord wanted me to do. This is a new start!”