A year ago, March 2020, as things began to shut down due to the Covid-19 virus, Lawrence was standing on a street corner in Saratoga with a sign that said ‘Too ugly to prostitute. Anything helps.’ This year he is celebrating sobriety, being in stable housing, and a reconnection to his family.
He was spotted on the street corner by RISE Care Manager, Victoria Furfaro, as she was driving to the RISE office. She read his sign and stopped to give him her card. Lawrence came into the office the next day and asked to speak to Victoria. He told her that he had been homeless for nearly 20 years and he wanted to change. He shared with her that he was newly sober and no longer wanted to blow his Social Security Income (SSI) on drugs like he had in the past.
Victoria obtained a Department of Social Services emergency hotel room for him while he waited for a bed to become available at the Shelters of Saratoga. She also connected him with a methadone program, with recovery services at Saratoga County Alcohol and Addiction Services, and with health services at the Community Health Center. Eventually Victoria referred him to the RISE Housing First program and today Lawrence has his own apartment, is sober, and continues to participate in his recovery program.
Lawrence is excited about his stability and his sobriety, “One of the greatest things about my life now is that I’ve reconnected with my family. My brother even helped me furnish my apartment.” He now has regular contact with his daughter and his two grandchildren from whom he had previously been estranged.
Lawrence continues to receive RISE Care Management services to assist him with managing his SSI funds and assisting with his health and dental concerns. He has made friends in the community. He enjoys walking around town and listening to music. Lawrence is a very spiritual person and he reads his Bible daily as well as participates in on-line spiritual programming. He is currently looking for a volunteer program in an effort to stay connected to the community he so enjoys now that his life is turned around.