Overcoming Decades of Street Homelessness
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“I was able to open up with my feelings and experiences for the first time. I feel happy and proud. I’ve come a long way.”
As a child, Luis suffered from abuse in his family. To cope, he used alcohol and drugs. His substance use increased and he experienced severe depression and anxiety, eventually becoming homeless at 20 years old. For decades, he cycled between street homelessness, psychiatric wards, and incarceration.
When the pandemic took hold, Luis found himself deeply depressed and thought about harming himself. He entered the shelter system and was referred to psychiatric services at Project Renewal’s Third Street Shelter. Through therapy and medication from his Project Renewal psychiatrist, he was finally able to regulate his emotions. “I was able to open up with my feelings and experiences for the first time,” Luis says.
With newfound stability, Luis secured an apartment in Times Square in the spring of 2022. He still meets with his Project Renewal psychiatrist each month, which helps him maintain his sobriety and navigate his mental health journey. “I don’t have suicidal thoughts anymore,” he says. “I feel happy and proud. I’ve come a long way.”
