A MAN, who once was homeless and had lost his family, is now living a better life due to a Texan-based program.
Christopher Jones stated that his life went downhill after his mother’s death and he developed a drug problem.
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Jones said: “I spiraled all the way down, I ain’t have no hope for myself.”
He attributed his new life to the ‘Homeless No More’ program at Dallas Life, according to Spectrum News 1.
The Homeless No Longer program is a 10 month course that includes 26 topics ranging from anger management to financial wellness.
Jones said: “This programme, it showed me how I can have something to depend on more than just doing drugs.”
After a year of being drug-free, he had turned around his life.
Jones added: “Right now I feel so excited.”
Homeless No More gave Jones a job at Dallas Life as a security guard for the night until mid-October.
Jones also intended to reconnect with both his wife and child.
He said: “I should be going home probably in the middle of October so that would give me enough time to finish saving up some money and get everything done how I need to get it done.”
“If they extending it then I am extending it, or relocating my family here, or I am going back to Arkansas.”
Dallas Life, a center for homeless recovery in Dallas, Texas, offers four different programs that address homelessness. These include courses designed specifically for veterans and seniors.
The center said that about 65% of their residents choose the Homeless No More program.
Bob Sweeny, Executive Director of the Department. Spectrum News 1 The wall at the centre is covered in plaques that have the names of all graduates engraved.
Sweeny said: “This is our 38th graduation in 18 and a half years and this wall represents the 673 people that have graduated from Homeless No More.
“Some of them are employees, some of them run entire departments.”
Jones thanked the program for its support and expressed the feelings he experienced at graduation.
He said: “I lost everything you know.
“And for me having to lose my kids and my wife in the process and for me to be able to lose that and conquer all that back within the months that god allowed me to do this
“It’s kind of awesome so that’s why I always smile.”