Brandon

As I was growing up, I dealt with homelessness with my family. As the result of a broken relationship I had alienated my family and ended up with no place to go. At the age of 19, the societal disease of homelessness flared up in my life again.

Alone, I walked my way from Oak Park, where my Godmother was letting me stay, to C.O.T.S., Coalition of Temporary Shelter, the only shelter I’d ever known existed. My stay there was shorter than my subsequent stay on the streets.

As the wind began to whip and the snow began to fall, so did my spirit. As I lay frozen in place under four woolen covers on a child’s playground slide, sleep was my worst enemy. In fifteen-minute increments I “caught up” on my rest, to ensure my safety. I was scared for my life knowing that if someone did not take it from me, I would.

I walked the street and was looked through as though I was a ghost, and that’s exactly what I was to myself. I was no longer the person I knew myself to be; a good son and brother, a good friend and father. I missed my son, and as my bones creaked and ached, I saw only his face. I was too prideful and ashamed to let my family, who I had turned away from, see me in this state. God had been trying to get my attention for so long, but it only took an open ear and heart for him to change my life. He started by guiding me here to Covenant House.

Having not eaten in a week and a half, to say the least I was starving. Here I ate.

Having been so cold so often, I didn’t feel my fingers. Here I was warm.

Having not been able to rest, I hadn’t slept through the night for two weeks. Here I slept.

Having not felt safe most of my life, here I found peace.

Covenant House is more than a shelter, or “three hots and a cot” -- it’s family. This family helped me reconnect with my immediate one. This family helped me reconnect with myself. Most of all, this family helped me reconnect with God. They gave me strength, courage, love, safety, laughter, and, last but definitely not least, help.

After two years of running from school I am finally running back. I plan on matriculating to Marygrove College in the fall to study Psychology and Marketing. I have been actively looking for a job to help with the burden of college expenses, and I have never felt so complete in my life.

I am grateful to all CHM staff members for being my family when I needed one the most, and showing me that, though this situation “ain’t no crystal stair,” as Langston Hughes put it, I can still climb this one to be closer to my goals.

Donate now to help Brandon and other kids in our programs.