John’s story: A journey from prison to a permanent home
/
“When you have your own home, you can dream about your future.”
John takes pride in sharing his home and his story. But it hasn’t always been this way. A disciplined Army veteran who gave his country 12 years of service, John struggled with his mental health after his discharge. He experienced economic challenges, food insecurity, and lack of access to mental health care, and eventually became incarcerated.
Two years ago, John was preparing for release from prison after 17 years. As someone who lives with bipolar disorder, John reached out to the Office of Mental Health (OMH) for resources to help him navigate life outside of the justice system.
They connected him with Project Renewal’s Parole Support and Treatment Program (PSTP), which helps New Yorkers with histories of both incarceration and mental health concerns to avoid the “prison-to-shelter” pipeline, and successfully reintegrate into society.
John’s PSTP case worker met him at the parole office and took him directly to supportive housing. “That was the key. I never had to navigate through the homeless shelter system,” says John.
Today, John is living in one of Project Renewal’s permanent apartments and successfully maintains his mental health with consistent support. He is preparing to continue his previous career in property management by taking computer and real estate classes. John looks forward to connecting with our employment team and returning to the workforce in 2023. “When you have your own home, you can dream about your future,” John says.
He credits his success to the commitment Project Renewal made to him—and his commitment to himself. “Project Renewal made an investment in me and provides me with the resources I need to succeed,” says John. “It is a partnership. They make a commitment to you, you make a commitment to them, and we both work together to put prison behind you. I will do what I need to do. I don't want to let them down.”
Don’t let John down. Help make a difference for New Yorkers like him. Learn more and donate to our campaign to prevent homelessness in New York City.
