Stephen's Second Chance

Stephen (age 24) was unhoused in Sonoma County for two years, but with the help of HomeFirst’s Outreach Team he regained stability and moved into an apartment of his own.  

​

He had been a stay-at-home dad to his young son, but when his marriage ended, he had neither savings nor an income. He was forced to live on the streets, and lost contact with his child. This was his first experience with homelessness. Growing up, he had spent time hanging out on the streets, but being there out of necessity was a completely new experience - one that was far more challenging. 

​

HomeFirst staff first connected with Stephen when he was fishing at Steamer Landing. He had heard others speak of the organization but thought he would talk to the team himself to see what they could offer. He felt motivated to reconnect with his son and hoped HomeFirst could help him achieve this. Little did he know that his initial interaction with the agency would lead to a long-term partnership of support. The consistency of the staff surprised him. 

​

When outreach staff met Stephen, they conducted a vulnerability assessment, which placed him in the queue for housing. As the relationship developed, they also went to court to advocate on his behalf and offered to connect him with other essential services. In short, his case manager pushed for his success until he had a roof over his head. 

​

With HomeFirst’s help, Stephen obtained permanent housing in October 2024, and he now lives in a studio apartment in Petaluma, the city where he grew up. He is getting settled in his new space and HomeFirst helped him apply for a gift card from the Housing Authority that he could use to purchase essential household items like bedding and cleaning supplies. 

​

With stable housing, and a safe place to sleep each night, Stephen can now think about the future. His long-term goal is this: to support himself and his son again and serve as a positive role model for his child. He also hopes to buy a car which will give him greater flexibility, and spend time doing what he loves – drawing, biking, and being involved with his community. Our team looks forward to seeing the success that we are certain is ahead of him!