Tyrell

Tyrell was raised in Maryland with one brother and a sister. His siblings are in their late 30’s.  “I was the baby of the family.” Their mother raised them as “My father was out of the picture most of the time.” Tyrell graduated from high school and tried to find a job but he began to drink a lot and smoke marijuana. He quickly says, “But I’m 2½ years sober.” One night he and his father were both drunk and got into a fight. The fight traumatized him and he gave up drinking.

When he was 17 he was kicked out of his home for lying and stealing. “It was a bad area of my life.”

He lived with friends, stayed in one night shelters, but mostly on the streets for the next few years. He found a job at a Dunkin Donuts doing trash removal and had a job at UPS for a while. When he was working he would rent a room with a friend. One day he called his grandmother who told him he needed to get out of Maryland. It was a bad place for him, so he called his father who drove him to Virginia where they had some family.

He arrived in Virginia in January 2017 and lived on the streets washing and brushing his teeth in 7-11’s. He begged for food and occasionally his grandmother sent him some money to eat. In March an uncle told him about The Union Mission.

“When I first came, I really liked it because it was different than the other shelters I had stayed in. The Union Mission is not just a shelter but it’s like ‘a land of opportunity.’ It was easy. They gave me free food and all the essentials. I could brush my teeth for free and bedtime was perfect. The rules make it safe for everyone here.”

After two months, his Case Manager, told him about the David Development Program. “I talked to the Manager and from the beginning it felt like a family vibe from the whole group. It’s called ‘My Brothers Keepers.’ We got each other’s back and it feels like a real family. I was always alone growing up and kept to myself a lot. It’s been a challenge for me getting long term and short term goals done, but life is simpler here.”

Tyrell got a job in May doing banquet set up at a Holiday Inn through the Goodwill Training Program in partnership with The Union Mission. After graduation he said, “It feels really good.”

“The David Program is a good idea. People my age need help and support. We can’t do it alone, emotionally and spiritually. You get the right guidance here. If it wasn’t for The Union Mission, I’d still be on the streets struggling. I want relaxation, good companionship with someone. I want to get a Dutch German Shepherd, a black one.” Tyrell plans to go to the SPCA for their orientation to get a dog saying, “I’m an animal lover. I also want a good relationship, a partner in life.” He had a girlfriend but “she cheated on me two or three times.” He is on the housing list but says he’s not quite ready yet because he’s trying to save his money.

Update March 2018: Tyrell graduated from High School (while homeless). In early October 2017 he began leasing an apartment at the “David House,” a 4 bedroom, fully furnished home, he shares with other David’s in the city of Norfolk. He has a job at The Holiday Inn Executive Center and is about to start a 2^nd job with Lowe’s. He graduated from the Aftercare Program on March 1, 2018 and has two more classes to complete to be considered an “Alumni.”  Unfortunately the David House has a “no pets” policy so no Dutch German Shepherd (yet). He also has a new girlfriend!