Definitely an Uplift

55-year-old Ken greets guests with a smile and a kind word as they wait in line for a meal at Berkeley Food & Housing Project’s Multi Service Center. He has reason to smile nowadays, but there was a time when he had no reason.
Born in Berkeley and raised in Oakland with four sisters by traditional African American parents, Ken graduated from Oakland High School. He served four years as a member of the Air Force Security Police at the end of the Vietnam era. Subsequently, he secured work at a small manufacturing company assembling aircraft parts.
After 13 years of marriage, he and his wife divorced. Ken moved in with his father. Not long afterwards, the company folded and he was unemployed. After a sibling dispute, Ken ended up homeless at age 45. For the next decade, he was chronically homeless. He was also diagnosed with a mental health condition.
The worst part of his day as a homeless man was evening. “People were going home and I had nowhere to go.” Talking about this, he gets so emotional that he can barely finish his sentence. This past year, Ken knew he could not live outside for another winter.
Last December Ken got a bed in our Men’s Overnight Shelter. He liked the fact that the Shelter is clean and structured, and he relished being able to have food and clean clothes. He also appreciated not having to sleep on concrete.
Ken began the process of finding his own place to live through the Rapid Rehousing program. He was surprised how rapidly BFHP’s staff found him a place to live. Today, Ken lives in a San Leandro mobile home park.
The Rapid Rehousing Program assisted Ken with his security deposit and a portion of his rent for three months. Asked how he felt about being housed again, Ken expressed surprise at how rapidly he was rehoused. “Having my own place is definitely an uplift! I have more energy.” He likes having a private shower and a place to sit and listen to the radio. He also repaired his relationship with his sister.
BFHP’s staff recognized Ken as someone motivated to change his situation. His desire to change now impels him to volunteer at our meal program 2-3 days a week. He is grateful for BFHP’s staff and Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program Team. Ken believes people should donate to BFHP because without BFHP’s help, he would still be homeless.
The cost of getting someone housed depends upon the client, the size of the family, the apartment and even the landlord. But knowing that Ken is housed? Priceless.