Marcy Altenes: A Journey from Addiction to Helping Others at The Midnight Mission

Marcy Altenes has been the Healthy Living Program Manager at The Midnight Mission (TMM) for nearly three years, but her connection to recovery runs much deeper. Like many of those she helps today, Marcy’s life was once shaped by addiction and hardship. She began using drugs and alcohol at a very young age, and although she entered recovery in her 20s, she relapsed by her late 20s.

Her relapse led her down a dark path filled with legal issues, incarceration, and homelessness. Marcy spent a period of her life living in her car, using drugs heavily, and feeling lost. The turning point came when her body began to give out. She had a stroke, a wake-up call that changed everything. Even after that terrifying experience, she used drugs one last time, but then she admitted she was powerless over her addiction. That admission was the start of her journey back into recovery.

Marcy has now been sober since 2015 and has dedicated her life to helping others. Working at The Midnight Mission, she says, is the best job she’s ever had.

“I get to watch people go from feeling defeated with their heads hung low to working the steps, cleaning themselves up, and seeing the joy of life come back into them,” Marcy shares. “I see them mend broken relationships with their families and resolve legal issues, which in turn allows them to get housing.”

For Marcy, seeing someone transform from hopelessness to hopefulness, find housing, and continue their recovery journey after completing the program is the most rewarding part of her work. “I can go home feeling like I make a difference, and that’s a feeling I haven’t had with any other job. It’s hectic but not stressful for me.”

Her advice to those still suffering from addiction is simple but powerful: “Just take a chance, and hopefully, TMM can give you a little bit of hope. People come here and completely transform their lives. There’s plenty of staff here to support you, and anything is possible.”

Marcy’s journey from addiction and homelessness to recovery and helping others serves as a powerful reminder that change is possible and that hope can be found even in the darkest of times.

 

Martin Lujan: Overcoming a Life of Homelessness and Addiction

Martin Lujan’s life has been marked by struggle since childhood. He grew up facing a rough upbringing, and when his father left, Martin found himself homeless at the age of 11. It was around this same time that he unknowingly began battling addiction. Homelessness and substance abuse became constants in his life. His mother still deals with homelessness, a painful reminder of the world he has fought to escape.

To cope, Martin turned to drugs as a way to numb the pain and escape reality. As the years passed, his life veered further into darkness. He got involved in street life, joined a gang, and cycled in and out of prison. Each time he was released, he fell deeper into addiction. After his most recent incarceration, things took a turn for the worse as he became heavily involved with drugs.

It was then that Martin was referred to The Midnight Mission (TMM). While here, a new legal case was filed against him, which he believes pushed him to change his thinking and complete the program’s steps. With the guidance of TMM’s advocates and the structure of the 12-step program, Martin began to find direction and purpose. He no longer felt lost. Instead, he was finally living for something greater than survival.

Eventually, his hard work and commitment paid off, and the judge in his case granted him leniency. As things started falling into place, Martin’s life transformed. He enrolled in college, pursuing addiction studies to help others who have faced similar struggles. He spends more time with his children and embraces his responsibilities as a father.

One of Martin’s proudest accomplishments during his time at TMM is quitting cigarettes, a feat he attributes to the support of the program. What he values most in his recovery is helping others. He finds joy in offering encouragement to those who struggle in their recovery journey, especially those who face the same challenges he once did. Martin even reaches out to former program participants who have relapsed, reminding them that it’s never too late to get back on track.

For Martin, recovery is about more than just staying sober—it’s about giving back and helping others see that there is always hope, no matter how dark the path may seem.

 

Tracy Pennywell was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. When Tracy was three months old, his mother was killed in a car accident shortly after she had graduated from high school. His aunt legally adopted him when he was eight, and Tracy never knew his father. His aunt was a pillar of support, always encouraging him to get good grades and stay on the right path.

After high school, Tracy went to LA Trade-Tech College, where he studied architectural drafting and refrigeration. But in 1984, everything changed. Tracy was introduced to crack cocaine. At the time, he was working as a school bus driver, but his addiction caused him to miss work frequently, and he soon found himself spiraling.

Over the years, Tracy sought help and entered various programs, but he struggled to stay sober for more than 90 days. Hoping for a fresh start, he moved to Texas. However, in 1997, he was arrested for aggravated robbery and faced a possible 35-year prison sentence. In a turn of events, the DA offered him a seven-year term, and he was released in 2004. Upon his release, Tracy returned to Los Angeles and entered a drug and alcohol program, successfully graduating. But despite his progress, he relapsed and found himself back in the cycle of addiction.

Living on the streets of Skid Row, Tracy would come to The Midnight Mission (TMM) for meals or showers, aware that it was also a place for recovery. One day, despite missing the usual intake hours, an advocate made an exception for him. That day, he changed his life. Tracy completed the program and remained sober for five years.

After breaking his hip while at a low rider event, Tracy fell into depression and began drinking again, losing his low rider and much of his finances, after five years of struggling, he returned to TMM in 2023 to restart his recovery journey.

Tracy is grateful TMM opened the doors for him once again. He applied the lessons he’s learned over the years and is set to graduate from the program in October. Tracy is looking forward to finding stable housing and is currently working as a school crossing guard. Despite his challenges, he has always maintained a good relationship with his children and now focuses on living and enjoying life.

Tracy takes pride in encouraging new program participants. He leads by example, going to work, attending meetings, and doing what is asked of him. He believes that being of service is key to his continued growth. For Tracy, recovery is not just about staying sober; it’s about living life fully, one day at a time.

Originally from Los Angeles, Jasmine and her partner bought a house in Detroit in 2017, seeking a new start. However, after deciding that the environment in Detroit wasn’t suitable for their family, they moved back to LA in 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning to reshape the world.

The timing of their move could not have been more challenging. They settled into a nice apartment in Redondo Beach, but Jasmine soon fell seriously ill, leaving her unable to work. With only one income to rely on, the family struggled to make ends meet. Jasmine, who had worked as a home caregiver, found herself feeling like a patient rather than a provider.

During the pandemic, California offered a renter’s moratorium to help tenants who were behind on rent, but their landlord refused to participate, forcing the family to live in hotels and with relatives. Desperate for help, Jasmine reached out to CalWORKs, where a homeless case manager provided a referral to Harbor Interfaith, which in turn connected her with PATH for short-term hotel vouchers.

The case manager eventually suggested a homeless shelter. Initially, Jasmine was hesitant, fearing it would not be suitable for her family, given her past experiences with homelessness in California. However, after some encouragement, she discovered HomeLight Family Living (HLFL) through The Midnight Mission (TMM). Contrary to her initial fears, HL offered regular apartments that were far from the crowded, impersonal shelters she had imagined.

Upon moving into HLFL, Jasmine was relieved to find a spacious place where she could prepare home-cooked meals, a welcome change from the convenience foods they had relied on while living in hotels. She was also grateful for the tutoring services HLFL provided, which helped her children catch up in school after the disruptions caused by their unstable living situation.

Jasmine’s connection with HLFL extended beyond immediate needs. With the support of her HLFL sponsor, Sony Pictures, she was able to purchase appliances and cookware for her future apartment—a dream she had nurtured. In December 2023, her family’s perseverance paid off when they were approved for permanent housing.

Now living in a newly built, secure community, Jasmine wants to challenge the stigma often associated with low-income housing and homelessness. Her experience has taught her that anyone can face homelessness due to a single illness, paycheck, or loss of a loved one. For Jasmine, having a permanent address has been a tremendous relief and a symbol of stability. She’s grateful for the opportunities that HLFL and TMM provided, and her story serves as a beacon of hope for others facing similar challenges.

Timothy Long’s journey is one of resilience and second chances. Raised in Birmingham, Alabama, in a loving Baptist Christian household, Timothy enjoyed a good childhood. He stayed grounded through team sports and his close bond with his mother. He was an only child and, by his own admission, a “mama’s boy.”

After high school, Timothy experimented with drugs and alcohol, and in his early 20s, his substance use quickly escalated into a full-blown addiction to crack cocaine. His addiction led him to distance himself from his family as it began to take control of his life. Although his mother placed him in a rehab program in the 80s, Timothy admits that he wasn’t ready to make the change for himself at that time.

Timothy moved to California in the 90s, where he was first introduced to The Midnight Mission (TMM), which was located on the 4th and Los Angeles. He often came for a bed and a meal, not yet ready to commit to recovery. Over the next decade, Timothy drifted between California, Arizona, and his hometown of Birmingham, unable to break free from addiction and toxic relationships.

In 2022, Timothy returned to California and sought housing through TMM. After a couple of months in Los Angeles, he decided to return to Birmingham, but he soon realized there was nothing left for him there. It was then that Timothy had a moment of clarity and recognized that his issues ran deeper than just needing housing. Reconnecting with his advocate, Marcy, he entered TMM’s recovery program with a renewed sense of determination.

As Timothy’s recovery journey progressed, he faced another significant challenge: cancer. After visiting his primary care doctor for pain in his side, it was discovered that he had a tumor on his kidney. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early, and surgery successfully removed his kidney before the disease could spread. Reflecting on his experience, Timothy now sees his time at TMM as a blessing—not only for aiding in his recovery from addiction but also for providing him with the space and support to address his physical and mental health.

Now, at 58, Timothy is filled with gratitude for the spiritual tools and healing that TMM has provided him. He understands that recovery is a journey that demands hard work, but with each passing month, he feels his strength growing. ‘If you truly desire recovery, you must be willing to put in the effort,’ he advises. With a new lease on life, Timothy is now living a lifestyle he once thought was beyond his reach.

Marcalet has always been familiar with the struggles of addiction. Growing up in a family where addiction issues were prevalent, she witnessed firsthand the challenges that come with loving someone in the grips of substance abuse. Her parents and siblings battled their own demons, and memories of her mother under the influence are still vivid. Marcalet recalls the time her mother, clearly high, drove off with the speaker at a drive-in movie theater and another time when she rode down a one-way residential street in the wrong direction. Unlike many, Marcalet’s mother never hid her addiction, and this openness shaped Marcalet’s understanding of the complexities of substance abuse.

Later in life, Marcalet found herself facing similar challenges as she became the supportive partner to the father of her children. He, too, struggled with addiction, but unlike her mother, he tried to hide it from her. Despite his efforts to conceal his struggle, the truth eventually came to light. The situation worsened after his mother passed away, leading him to disappear for about a year. When he returned, broken and lost, he was encouraged to seek help from The Midnight Mission (TMM).

Marcalet was familiar with the role of a supportive partner in the recovery process. She stood by the father of her children as he embarked on his journey at TMM, offering unwavering support and understanding. Her experience with addiction in her own family gave her the strength and compassion needed to be a pillar of support during his recovery.

Marcalet’s story is a testament to the power of compassion and resilience in the face of addiction. Her journey alongside the father of her children and her own experiences growing up highlight the importance of support, understanding, and community in the recovery process. Today, she continues to be a source of strength for those around her, drawing on her past to help others navigate their own paths to recovery.

Felicia grew up as the oldest of seven siblings, assuming a nurturing role from a young age. Her natural inclination to care for others led her to pursue work as a nurse aide, where she thrived in a role that allowed her to connect with people and offer support.

Raised by her grandparents, family always came first for Felicia. She cherished their gatherings, finding solace and strength in their close-knit bonds. However, life presented significant challenges, including the devastating loss of one of her children and periods of homelessness following her mother’s passing.

Despite these hardships, Felicia’s resilience remained steadfast. She sought refuge among family members and eventually sought help through rehabilitation, recognizing the need for change and healing. Fifteen months ago, she found herself at The Midnight Mission (TMM), where she has been on a transformative journey towards stability and hope.

“At TMM, I’ve found more than just shelter,” Felicia shares. “It’s about having someone who cares, especially when you feel at your lowest.”

Her time at TMM has been instrumental in her journey toward permanent housing, a goal she eagerly anticipates as she looks forward to becoming a grandmother and embracing new beginnings. Felicia dreams of marrying, owning a home, and pursuing work that allows her to continue helping others with her caring nature and skilled hands.

Felicia’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. She believes firmly in rising again and encourages others facing challenges to approach TMM with an open heart and mind. She recognizes it as a lifeline that has supported her journey of transformation.

Rebecca Hayes was at a crossroads when she arrived at The Midnight Mission’s HomeLight Family Living program, determined to rebuild her life after battling addiction. Originally from Seattle, her journey into the depths of substance abuse and homelessness led her to places she never imagined. Despite initial attempts at recovery with methadone and the birth of her son, Rebecca was ensnared by alcoholism, losing everything once again.

With little recourse, Rebecca made the difficult decision to relocate to Los Angeles to be near her mother. But even there, her struggles persisted, reaching a breaking point with her young son in tow. It was in this moment of desperation that Rebecca embraced a new path, committing to sobriety through a 12-step program.

Six months later, an encounter at The Midnight Mission changed everything. Rebecca shared her story with others in the Recovery Program, catching the attention of a TMM employee who introduced her to HomeLight Family Living. From that point on, her life took a dramatic turn. Both she and her son found stability and support, enabling them to thrive.

Rebecca wanted to be self-sufficient. She started to research jobs when HLFL Director Ricardo Rosales suggested she look into the medical field. Rebecca’s interest peaked in the surgical technology program. She applied and was accepted into the school while at HLFL.

In addition to pursuing education, Rebecca joined the Skid Row Running Club, embarking on a journey of physical and mental endurance. Despite never having run a race before, she tackled seven marathons, including three international ones. Rebecca believes if you can run a marathon, you can do anything.

Today, Rebecca’s story is one of triumph. She returned to Seattle and decided to go back to school to become a registered nurse (RN). Rebecca graduated from nursing school with honors. She loves being a nurse because her perspective and past experiences allow her to help people in a deeply empathetic way.

Rebecca found love and got married. She purchased a home and wants everyone to know: “Don’t give up five minutes before the miracle happens. Hold onto the beauty around you, even though the struggle is really hard and seems never-ending because it will end.” Her journey from struggle to success is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of hope and determination.

In the heart of Orange County, where the laughter of tourists mingles with the scent of candy, Kyle’s journey began. At Disneyland, where the promise of dreams come true, Kyle’s life unfolded against a backdrop of hidden struggles and untold challenges. Kyle grew up in Orange County and got a job at Disneyland making candy. Even though he loved his job, he couldn’t stay sober, and he was fired for being intoxicated. He used his savings on hotel rooms, and when the money ran out, he slept in a tent on the riverbeds. For the next ten years, Kyle tried to hide his homelessness and drug addiction from others. He was ashamed of what his life had become.

A near-death experience was the wake-up call to change the trajectory of Kyle’s life. On Halloween night, 2023, Kyle overdosed on fentanyl. It was the turning point for him to seek help and recovery. Kyle was sick and tired of being sick and tired. He was afraid to contact his family. He thought he could only go home if he had possessions to show why he had gone, but he had nothing. One night, he got on a train and ended up at his father’s house.

To Kyle’s surprise, his father welcomed him home. Kyle saw in his father’s eyes that all he ever wanted was for Kyle to come home. Kyle told his father that he was done with drugs, that he was scared, and he didn’t know what to do. His father encouraged him to get help. Kyle had a moment of clarity while talking with his father. He didn’t want to hurt his family. His mother had died two years before, and Kyle did not want his family to experience another loss. Kyle spent the weekend in his childhood room looking for how to get sober. He did not know there were so many places to recover. He found The Midnight Mission’s (TMM) website, and he was attracted to the word midnight. Being a night owl, he thought this would be the place he needed to go.

Kyle came to TMM’s Courtyard. He was told to come back the following day because there were no open beds. The next day, Kyle came back and found out he had to go to detox. Kyle went to a detox center and then was accepted into TMM’s Recovery Program. Through the program, Kyle has learned his problem is not the drugs, but his problems lie within himself. He is taking suggestions from TMM’s counselors and advocates to have the tools to live a sober life.

While at TMM, Kyle works to coordinate volunteers when he is not in class. In addition to the recovery curriculum, Kyle is taking the workshop Midnight Strings, which Street Symphony teaches. He is learning how to play the guitar and to write songs. Kyle has big dreams for the future. He would like to be an advocate to help others in addiction when he graduates. He wants to visit all 50 states and go to a recovery meeting in each one.

Kyle has learned the greatest lesson in life is to ask for help. He knows when he asks for help, he will grow and learn. Kyle is ready to gain new perspectives and develop the skills to overcome challenges. He encourages others to have the courage to ask for help.

Brittany and Robert were at a turning point when they arrived at HomeLight Family Living in September of 2023. They were rewarded custody of their daughter by the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services in August. Determined to reunite their family and leave behind their past struggles, they reached out to the HomeLight Family Living Program.

Both Brittany and Robert had battled with substance abuse, but they wanted to break free from that destructive lifestyle. Recognizing that they couldn’t do it alone, they sought help at a drug rehabilitation center. Through the support of 12-step programs, counseling, and their faith community, they embraced a journey of sobriety. One of the suggestions given to them for their continued progress was to have a new beginning for their family.

At HomeLight, Brittany and Robert found a fresh start that empowered them to rebuild their lives. They eagerly started the various programs offered to strengthen their family. Their daughter was enrolled in the Venice Family Clinic’s Early Head Start program on HomeLight’s campus, providing her with a nurturing educational environment. Brittany and Robert enrolled in a money management plan, equipping themselves with the skills needed to budget for their future responsibly.

Brittany and Robert embraced their newfound stability with determination and gratitude. Both secured employment, laying the groundwork for a solid foundation for their family’s future. They have mended relationships with their extended family and are grateful to have them as a part of their supportive network.

Brittany and Robert are looking ahead to securing permanent housing, saving diligently, and providing their daughter with the love and stability she deserves. They are dedicated to building a brighter future together.

Erika Brule is the co-founder of Flip4Good, a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles that is generously supported by female funding. Erika’s journey with Flip4Good began with her volunteer work at HomeLight Family Living on January 31, 2023. The experience ignited a profound passion within her for the mission of The Midnight Mission, compelling her to seek deeper involvement within the community.

Since 2023, Erika’s life has undergone a remarkable transformation. Inspired by her volunteer experience, she made the courageous decision to depart from her corporate career and establish a nonprofit organization inspired by the HomeLight Family Living program.

With unwavering dedication, Erika has assembled a wealth of resources, recruited board members, forged partnerships, and secured enthusiastic sponsors who share Flip4Good’s vision. The organization’s core mission is to create safe spaces and opportunities that pave the way for long-term success for individuals and families in periods of transition.

The Bright Spots program is an innovative initiative designed to transform ordinary days into extraordinary moments of community and connection. Whether through lively pizza parties or immersive silent discos, the program offers invaluable opportunities for meaningful engagement within the communities it serves.

The inaugural Bright Spots event was hosted at HomeLight Family Living, a poignant reminder of Flip4Good’s roots and the enduring significance of community bonds. Sharing pizza with families and fostering moments of connection exemplify the organization’s core values.

Looking ahead, Erika eagerly anticipates cultivating continued partnerships with The Midnight Mission and HomeLight Family Living, recognizing their invaluable contributions to Flip4Good’s mission of empowerment and support.

Charles earned the nickname Buckshot from his grandfather’s formidable bull, a name that speaks to his resilience. Hailing from a lineage of cowboys, he embodies their adventurous spirit, embracing life’s challenges and turning setbacks into opportunities.

Charles left his family and belongings with nothing but a backpack and a thirst for adventure. He ventured forth, resorting to selling drugs and engaging in scams to navigate the harsh realities of life on the fringes. Charles’s journey took a tumultuous turn when the call of alcohol and drugs led him to the streets of Skid Row.

Charles landed in a shelter and did well for a time. However, the turning point came on the anniversary of his mother’s passing when Charles picked up a drink. Shortly after, he got into an altercation with another resident of the shelter, leading to his expulsion.

Seeking refuge and redemption, Charles turned to The Midnight Mission, a beacon of hope. He embarked on a journey of self-discovery and rehabilitation, guided by mentors who helped him confront his dependence on drugs and alcohol and acquire vital life skills, from job hunting to dressing for success.

Through the support of compassionate advocates and fellow participants, Charles found strength in community and faith, crediting God for his newfound sense of purpose and optimism. With the assistance of The Midnight Mission, he is hopeful to secure stable housing and embark on a path of recovery, paving the way for a brighter future.

Kellee L. came to HomeLight Family Living (HLFL) after struggling with homelessness for almost four years. She was a single mom who wanted more for her family. Kellee discovered HLFL through a 211 operator, and it became a refuge that provided her with a roof over her head and access to programs that would change her life.

Kellee experienced a pivotal change in her attitude when she realized that people genuinely wanted to see her succeed without any ulterior motives. The supportive staff at HLFL encouraged Kellee to engage in the programs they offered because they would give her a path to success and stability. Kellee’s confidence grew when Ricardo Rosales, HLFL Program Director, assured her of his belief in her potential.

HLFL introduced Kellee to basic rules that brought structure to her life. She acquired essential life skills, such as financial management, and engaged in classes for drug and alcohol recovery. The experience at HLFL offered Kellee a completely new outlook on life.

Initially fearful of living independently, Kellee overcame her fear with confidence and gratitude. Her apartment became a secure space for deeper healing and recovery, establishing a stable foundation for her to continue to grow.

Kellee envisions a promising future. She is pursuing a business major in college, a feat she never imagined possible before HLFL. Inspired by her own journey, Kellee aspires to start a nonprofit to aid others facing similar challenges. She is writing an autobiography sharing her life experiences with homelessness and addiction. Having been deeply impacted by hearing others’ stories, she aims to pay it forward and positively impact others. Kellee wants others to know they can face their fears; it is the things they are scared of doing that hold them back. By confronting those fears, they become unstoppable, opening doors to the opportunities life has to offer.

In January 2022, Jacqueline found her way to The Midnight Mission (TMM) amid the challenges life had thrown at her. Struggling through hardship, she encountered a compassionate woman on the street who introduced her to TMM. At that time, Jacqueline was living on a subway train, having endured 18 months of homelessness before finding refuge at TMM.

Originally from Flagstaff, AZ, Jacqueline’s journey brought her to Los Angeles with aspirations of attending the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. However, circumstances led her to abandon that pursuit. She then shifted her focus to pursuing an environmental law degree at Purdue, but the ongoing struggle with homelessness posed a significant obstacle to her academic endeavors. Jacqueline intends to pursue her education once she secures stable housing.

Grateful for the sanctuary TMM has provided, Jacqueline acknowledges the invaluable resources that have come her way. Embracing opportunities for personal growth and community engagement, she joined the Skid Row Running Club, finding solace and joy in fellowship and running. Additionally, Jacqueline participated in Midnight Strings classes offered by Street Symphony, discovering her voice through collaborative songwriting.

One of Jacqueline’s passions is writing, a creative outlet she held onto even during her homeless days. Taking the initiative, she penned her biography in a book called “Chaos,” chronicling her spiritual journey. Writing serves as a means for Jacqueline to articulate and express herself, and it remains a constant source of solace and empowerment in her life.

Jacqueline encourages anyone suffering from homelessness to reach out for help. There is a network of people eager to provide support and resources. Jacqueline advocates for self-compassion, reminding individuals in such situations to be gentle with themselves. She firmly believes that, with perseverance and the right support, navigating through these difficult circumstances is possible.

Kennan came to The Midnight Mission in January of 2023 for help. He was suffering in the depths of addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine. He was living on the streets, and his kind heart was a target for people to take advantage of him. Keenan wanted a different life.

Keenen committed himself to TMM’s Recovery Program. He welcomed the structure of TMM. It provided him with the refuge he desperately sought. He focused on the changes he needed to make in his life. Keenan attended therapy sessions, daily 12-step meetings, and one-on-one meetings with his case manager.

One day at a time, Keenan put into practice what he was learning, changing his life trajectory. He was determined to finish the recovery program curriculum so when Keenan was matched for housing before graduation, he declined the housing. He stayed at TMM because he knew anything he put before his recovery would be lost. Keenan wanted a new life where he was sober and self-sufficient.

Upon graduation, Keenan moved into a brand-new apartment across the street from TMM. The location helped Keenan stay connected with the people at TMM and continue his recovery journey.

Carlton Virgil II grew up in Los Angeles and loves it. After his father died, in grief, he turned to drugs and alcohol. His addiction led to homelessness. He couch-surfed, lived in his car, and realized he had nowhere to go. Being homeless was hard for Carlton, and he became willing to change. Before destroying his life any further, he decided to come to The Midnight Mission for help.

For the first time since 2011, Carlton wanted to be sober. He started to experience life with open ears and an open mind. He began to listen to learn and understand how to live a sober life. Coming to The Midnight Mission helped Carlton get on the road to recovery and find himself.

Recovery gave him a new outlook and changed how his family saw him. He has a relationship with his mom and sister and is a part of his family again. Carlton aspires to be an NBA photographer.

Andrea came to HomeLight after struggling from the effects of domestic violence. It was a very difficult time in her life. She pressed charges against him, but he only received a few months in jail. When he got out, he assaulted her again.

Andrea had lost custody of her kids and worked with a DCFS social worker to get them back. After only a month at HomeLight, Andrea’s children were returned to her. She also started raising her niece after Andrea’s Mom, who had been caring for her, died. Andrea’s strength was renewed. She went back to court and testified against her attacker; this time, he got years in prison.

While at HomeLight, Andrea completed the outpatient drug and alcohol program. She went to therapy once a week. Andrea attended school online at Mt. San Antonio Community College and worked on getting her GED. Andrea attended 12-step meetings thrice weekly, got a recovery mentor, and worked the 12 steps. Andrea addressed her mental health issues.

Andrea got a job and started saving money. She paid off several debts and applied for subsidized housing. She continued to work towards her goals and achievements. Andrea took every suggestion given to her. She keeps a good relationship with her social worker and keeps her informed about her life.

Andrea enrolled her children in school and managed their mental health needs. Her son takes medication daily for ADHD and ODD diagnosis, and she keeps in close contact with his psychiatrist and therapist. Andrea welcomes advice on handling his behavior with love. Her son does a great job at school and has even received student of the month. He enjoys playing soccer, which is a healthy way to burn energy.

Andrea’s daughter saw a therapist once a week and Andrea helped her get the help she needed to improve in school. She facilitated meetings with the school psychologist, school counselor, teacher, and the school principal for regular assessments of her individualized education plan. Today, Andrea’s daughter has met all her therapist’s goals and is thriving at home and school.

Andrea had to get legal documentation from her sister stating that she gave her custody of her niece. She then enrolled her in school and worked on her individualized education plan through her previous school records. Her niece needed glasses, but her medical insurance was inactive for a year. Andrea did all the paperwork, provided proof for the county, and finally activated her niece’s medical insurance. Andrea has ensured her niece is also receiving therapy since she has been through a lot of trauma and loss.

Andrea was ecstatic to move into her own place with her children to start a new life together. She continued studying and improving herself. She obtained her GED from Mt. San Antonio Community College in February 2023 and enrolled in regular college classes. Andrea got a job as a caregiver caring for Veterans in their homes.

Andrea’s niece had difficulty adjusting to the new home but is now thriving. She has a tutor from School on Wheels, a service provided to the kids at HomeLight. This past summer, she attended a program where she participated in college classes at Cal State University Dominguez Hills. She completed the course and obtained her first three college units. Andrea is very proud of her.

Andrea continues her recovery, being sober since February of 2021. Andrea admits that being a single parent is tough. She has a lot on her shoulders and sometimes finds it hard to stay positive, but through the HomeLight program, Andrea has the tools to live life on life’s terms. Andrea is grateful for the support and structure she received at HomeLight that enabled her to live a different life.

James Denning is from Tucson, AZ. In 2017, he came to The Midnight Mission to get help with his addiction. When James started using drugs and alcohol, everything was magical and good. When he had his first drink, James went from being shy and uncomfortable in his own skin to being fearless. He began to live a criminal lifestyle by the age of 15. To him, it was all part of the fun.
By his early twenties, the drugs and alcohol took a toll on James’ life, and he depended on it like medicine. He lost sight of everything important to him: school, education, and family. By the end of his twenties, the drugs and alcohol created absolute misery. He was depressed all the time and lacked hope.
James got tired of the cycle of addiction and decided to go to The Midnight Mission for help. He thought he only needed to get himself together by getting clean and a job; then he would be okay. His first stay at TMM lasted four months because he did not want to work a 12-step program. James moved to Tuscon but could not outrun his addiction, so he returned to TMM. He graduated from the program and stayed sober for 11 months before he relapsed.
The seeds of recovery planted at TMM took root in James’ life. James realized he had been trying to control his drinking and drug use, believing the lie he could stop when he wanted. When he conceded to his innermost self that he had to remain abstinent, he remembered the lessons from TMM. James got a 12-step sponsor and worked the steps.
James is grateful for the opportunity of a new life. By working the steps, he has experienced God doing for him what he cannot do for himself, including removing fear. James has a good job in the movie industry. He has a car, and he is getting his own apartment.
As everything falls into place for James, he wants to give back to others. He enjoys returning to The Midnight Mission to volunteer, remembering where he came from, and looking forward to the future.

After the sudden loss of her father, Qantra found herself navigating an unimaginable challenge: raising her toddler son without a home. For two months, they lived out of their car. Despite the instability, Qantra remained determined to change their circumstances. She continued her education and graduated as a medical assistant, proving her resilience in the face of adversity.

Everything changed when a referral led her to HomeLight Family Living (HLFL). Over the next nine months, HLFL became more than just a place to stay-it became a foundation for rebuilding her life. With the program’s structured approach, Qantra set weekly and monthly goals, accessing resources and guidance that would transform her future.

At HLFL, Qantra worked on improving her credit and secured a full-time job, all while attending weekly meetings with supportive staff. These sessions kept her focused and offered a sense of accountability. Through their encouragement, she realized her potential and felt empowered to pursue her dreams.

Qantra’s favorite memory at HLFL is the sense of family and community she experienced. “They show you what real family is, what it means to be loved and encouraged,” she says. One moment she holds close is watching her son participate in the Christmas pageant, a joyful reminder of the stability and warmth they’d found together.

For Qantra, having stable housing was transformative. “It made me feel complete, more human again,” she reflects. With HLFL’s support, she not only met immediate needs but also laid the groundwork for long-term success. Now, Qantra dreams of attending cosmetology school, driven by a desire to help others. Her ultimate goal is to return to HLFL, this time as a volunteer, to give back to the community that believed in her when she needed it most.

Qantra is deeply grateful to the HLFL staff for their guidance and encouragement. They didn’t just help her achieve her goals; they gave her hope for a brighter future.

Growing up, Aundria Murray’s family moved a lot. She and her brother were raised by a single mom who was continually seeking opportunities for a better life. She moved the children back and forth between Texas and California, looking for resources and a stable life. HomeLight was the answer to her prayers, providing Aundria’s Mom a safe place to put back the pieces of her life.

When Aundria was in middle school, her family moved into the apartments at HomeLight. For Aundria, this was a breath of fresh air. She loved having the consistency of being in the same school for the entire year. She was able to make and keep friends with children at school and others living at HomeLight. The friendships she made in those formative years have continued today.

One of Aundria’s fondest memories at HomeLight was Christmas. She said the staff made it very special, and it was her best Christmas.

Aundria and her brother learned life’s hard lessons by watching their mom’s challenges. Aundria’s brother has a house and works for Microsoft in Texas. Aundria lives in Los Angeles in her own apartment. She works full-time and dreams of returning to school to be a nurse.

Aundria worked briefly at TMM until she had to leave to help care for her grandmother. Working at TMM made her empathize with people suffering from homelessness and addiction. It made her want to help people and be a part of the world’s greater good.

Caprice L. Collins, Esq. moved her business to Inglewood in 1991 and was active on the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce board. She became aware of HomeLight Family Living while on the Inglewood Chamber board.

Ms. Collins was impressed by the work being done at HomeLight, so she visited The Midnight Mission in downtown Los Angeles. She met with Larry Adamson, President & CEO at the time. After speaking with Mr. Adamson, she offered to have a Christmas party in her home for the children living at HomeLight.

Ms. Collins not only supplied the location of the party, but she also planned great activities for the children to experience. They had bouncy houses, magicians, and exotic pets to entertain and enhance the celebration. The Midnight Mission would provide catering, and everyone would have a wonderful time. KNBC came to the party one year and highlighted it on a newsreel.

Ms. Collins and her law group would invite their clients to bring toys for the children, and her banking clients made financial contributions. Other clients participated in a raffle to donate to HomeLight. The children at HomeLight were overjoyed to receive the gifts, and the families felt a part of the Inglewood community.

The Christmas parties are no longer at Ms. Collins’s home, but their support has continued. What continues to attract Ms. Collins and Collins Law Group to HomeLight Family Living is the impact HomeLight has in the community, helping reunite, rebuild, and restore families. We are so grateful for their continued partnership to provide life-transforming services to our families.

Melanie’s Story – in her own words

My name is Melanie, and I have lived here at HomeLight since March of 2023. Before moving in, I was at a sober living home doing my recovery programs, and before that, I was anywhere I could stay. Sadly, I had been on the streets, and I was using drugs. Eventually, a DCFS case was opened, and I lost custody of my baby girl for a year. I worked hard to grow from my bad experiences, but I would still need living assistance after my time at the sober living.

I felt I was a good candidate for HomeLight, so I applied. Thinking about what come next in my new life was scary, so maybe I did bug Carmen, a HomeLight Family Living staff member, a little too much. Still, I was determined to improve my situation because I had regained custody of my daughter by this time. I feared having custody and not having a place to stay would affect me badly and set me back in my progress. But the staff here at HomeLight took a chance on me and allowed me to move in right away before I had to leave the sober living. They took a chance on me because I had been addicted and had an open DCFS case.

Here I received immediate stability. I know that none of my past matters. It’s what I’m doing today that counts. So, when HomeLight Family Living’s Director Ricardo Rosales gave me the OK to move in, I was excited and relieved. It feels great knowing I’m given this opportunity to live here so I can continue growing. Today I am taking advantage of the services and continuing with mental health services, recovery services with relapse prevention groups, and case management. I have a job and started saving money. Today, I am happy to report that the Department of Children and Family Services has closed jurisdiction over my daughter and has closed their case.

I have two other children that I hope will rejoin me one day. This program has allowed them to visit as I work toward mending my family. For the first time in a very long time, I have had all three of my daughters spend the night. I could not do this before because I did not have a safe, comfortable place for all of us. All my daughters are here tonight.

Overall, HomeLight is a great place to be part of, a program that believes in me as I work toward my goals of reunifying my family, securing my own place to live, and being the best mom and leader of my family.

Thank you to The Midnight Mission for all you do for my family and me.

Stephanie’s Story – in her own words

My name is Stephanie, and I was a participant at HomeLight Family Living. I just transitioned successfully into my own apartment last month. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who has walked by my side along my path. I know it must not have been easy because I was so broken when I got to HomeLight. I come from a really dark background, experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and drug abuse.

I found myself constantly needing the help of others because I couldn’t help get my life together. I couldn’t hold a job, didn’t have money to feed myself, and was always crashing on someone’s couch or motel room. It wasn’t long after having my first baby that I began to use again. At that time, I was staying at home with my parents, and I felt like postpartum depression really got the best of me, and at that time, I didn’t know how else to cope with it other than picking up and using. I had been using on and off since 2012. Because of my uncontrollable behavior when under the influence, I was kicked out of my house. I became pregnant again. I knew at that point I couldn’t keep living my life as I was. So, I decided to get into a recovery program to help teach me a routine and learn about my disease. I had moved into a house with 14 other mothers and their children, which was very challenging for me.

After having my son, I wasn’t working and was barely getting by with the little bit that I had. That’s when I was speaking to a mentor of mine, and she mentioned the HomeLight Family Living program and how they help families in need. I was skeptical of this at first because I was not too comfortable living so far away from my family, but I didn’t have any other option but to trust that God was giving me this opportunity to help me get back on my feet.

Within a week of calling the office, I heard back from them and we did a phone interview, which turned into an in-person interview. I was very nervous when I came to the office to meet Ricardo Rosales, HomeLight Family Living’s Director. In the back of my mind, I knew how much I needed this opportunity. And once he told me they would allow me to move in, I was filled with emotion. All I could do was look at my son, who was two months at that time and feel so blessed that I could finally become the responsible mother he needed me to be. My main goal was to get healthy and stable so I could bring my other son back home, who was living with my mom. I knew I had to be strong and stay consistent to be the best person I needed to be.

HomeLight gave me immediate stability as I now had a safe place to live and could focus on the long-term goals they helped me put together. I started attending mental health services to help me deal with my trauma from domestic violence. Childcare services were provided for my son, so I had time to look for work and focus on my schoolwork. I found a good sponsor to help me with my recovery daily. The case management team worked very closely with me to help me learn how to save and be responsible with my finances. I also entered a job development program that helped me find employment in a mental health clinic, which I have been with for almost a year now. Once my mom began to see that I was living a stable life, we began to work on reunifying our relationship of mother and daughter, which has also allowed me to have quality time with my oldest son.

I was able to leave the program with a full-time job that I really liked, saved enough money to buy a car, and still have savings of $7, 000.00. I worked hard to become independent and self-sufficient. Now that I live in my own apartment and close to my family, I couldn’t be more at peace with all my accomplishments because of HomeLight. I have realized that homelessness and single parenting are issues and struggles in our communities. Not everybody has the same opportunity that I was blessed with. The entire program has inspired me to offer a helping hand to anyone struggling on their own and with their children. Today I am a survivor, but most of all, I am where I really wanted to be, being the best mom I can be and raising my kids so that they can have a great’s life

Thank you to HomeLight and all the sponsors supporting this program for being a part of my healing process. For that, I am forever grateful.

Veronica lost everything as the result of her addiction to prescription medication. She was depressed and anxious. Having given up on herself and any dream that her life could be what it had once been, she lost all motivation and hope.

With nowhere else to turn, Veronica went to a hospital for help. The hospital referred her to The Midnight Mission. It was a turning point in her life.

Veronica no longer lives in the darkness of depression; she lives in the light of today. She practices living one day at a time. Veronica threw herself into recovery and is working the 12 steps with a sponsor. She has returned to the workforce and is a productive member of society.

Whenever Veronica isn’t working, she volunteers her time at The Midnight Mission. She has found that the secret to happiness is not in what you get but in what you give away. She shares her experience with other women who have lost hope.

Veronica says she is grateful for the support she receives from the staff at The Midnight Mission. She is motivated and encouraged by their support and encourages other women to trust the process of overcoming addiction and homelessness. The results are not immediate, but by making small changes daily, everything will change over time. Veronica reminds others not to give up on their goal of becoming housed, employed, and reconnected with their families.

In 2021, Frankie came to The Midnight Mission seeking refuge from an abusive relationship. She was covered in bruises, and The Midnight Mission staff took compassionate care of her. Because of her abuse, she was on constant hyperalert. She did not want to talk to anyone or leave her space. She did not eat or sleep. Director of Programs Jeanette Rowe believed in Frankie and encouraged her. Jeanette made Frankie feel safe, and Frankie changed from isolation to becoming a social butterfly.

She stayed in the Crisis and Bridge program for four months. At that time, Frankie signed up for classes to become a case manager. Upon graduation, The Midnight Mission hired Frankie to be a case manager. She wanted to work at TMM to show other domestic abuse survivors that TMM is a safe place to heal. When domestic violence survivors or veterans come to TMM, Frankie shares the actions she took to move forward. She shares her experience, strength, and hope to encourage others. If she can do it, they can, too. Frankie reminds them they are stronger than they think they are. Frankie hopes each participant will graduate the program and position themselves to help others.

While Frankie was going to go to school to be a psychologist, her psychology teacher noticed how good Frankie was with animals. He pointed out that being a veterinarian would allow her to help homeless animals as well as their owners. Frankie switched her major to become a veterinarian, deciding she would combine her love for animals and desire to help homeless individuals. Frankie plans to work part-time at The Midnight Mission through her four years of veterinary school to continue to help others in the same way she was helped, hoping to make a difference in the lives of the people she serves.

Richard C. asked the TMM Access Center to help him get back to his hometown in Redlands, California. He wanted to move in with a friend, but she could not help him because of a recent death in her family. Richard’s next option was to call the Good News Rescue Mission because he had received services there before moving to LA.

Richard did not have funds to move because he had lost his SSI benefits card. His mailing address was at Good Rescue Mission, but they could not verify his identity over the phone because of HIPPA regulations. Richard left the TMM Courtyard discouraged and tried to look for other ways to get back to Redlands, California. He visited the Access Center every day for two weeks, inquiring about any new information to get him back to his hometown.

On October 17, 2022, a private donor provided the Access Center with transportation funds, clothing, and food to get Richard to his hometown. As Richard boarded the greyhound bus, he was happy, hopeful, and excited to return to his hometown and end his homelessness. Richard’s future is bright; he will have a home in a senior housing facility. Our priority is to help our clients meet their needs and be able to bring a bright smile full of happiness.

From the Sidewalk to Sobriety

Peter grew up in a small town in upstate New York. A friend of his moved to Las Vegas, NV, and he decided to move west. He wore out his welcome at his friend’s house and became homeless. Peter was living behind the Golden Nugget Casino on Freemont Street when he met a man from Catholic Family Services who offered to take him to Los Angeles. The man said there were more resources to help people experiencing homelessness there.

When he arrived in LA, Peter stayed at the Weingart Center for two weeks; then, he was back out on the streets. He stayed on either Pico Boulevard or 6th Street. Peter sat on the sidewalk across the street from The Midnight Mission every day, watching people go in and get help. He knew he could find help in the programs at TMM, but he knew he would have to stop drinking. But, he was scared and wasn’t ready to stop. He even stayed in TMM’s Safe Sleep in our courtyard for a few nights. For six months, he sat watching until one cold and rainy winter day; he was ready to get sober and change his life.

Peter talked to a woman at the front desk, and she told him to come back at 5 am the following day, and there would be an open bed for him. Peter summoned all the courage he had to come back and wait on the bench in the courtyard to begin his new life. He jumped into the Recovery Program, getting a job in the warehouse and helping on the loading dock.

Peter fondly remembers attending many recovery meetings and spending weekends playing softball in Clancy’s backyard. He made many connections and learned a lot about how to live a sober life. Despite finding a new way of life in LA, Peter wanted to move home to NY to show his family how well he was doing.

Peter moved back to NY and did not have the same support he had at TMM. He ended up relapsing but found his way back to recovery. He had never forgotten what he learned while in Los Angeles. Peter celebrated eight years of sobriety in April of 2022. He has a life he never imagined would be possible while living on the streets in LA. Peter has a house to call his own, is married, and has a dog. He works on the Recovery Campus in NY, sharing his experience, strength, and hope with people seeking sobriety. He not only wants to help them, but he is uniquely qualified to do so because he has been there and he knows how they feel.

Peter wanted to offer encouragement to anyone who is thinking about changing their lives. He said not to let fear control you; don’t be afraid to change. He realized the sidewalk was not the last stop in his life; it was just a bridge to a big, beautiful life in recovery.

Ricky Brown moved to Orange County in 2015 from Mississippi. He attended a program to help him with his addiction and remained sober for three years. He moved back to Mississippi to see his daughter graduate. Then, his brother died.

Ricky stopped doing the things that kept him sober. He didn’t go to recovery meetings or stay in contact with his recovery mentor. Ricky ceased communicating with his family and quit going to work. Ricky found himself back in the throes of addiction.

Ricky remembered getting sober in California and decided to get a bus ticket back to Los Angeles. After a week on the streets, a friend called The Midnight Mission to get Ricky a bed in the Recovery Program. Since arriving at TMM in June 2022, Ricky has started a new way of life. He regularly attends groups and participates in recovery meetings, working a 12-step program. Ricky is grateful that TMM has helped him become the man he wants to be. Ricky aspires to help others who are battling addiction.

In 2012, Wendy Nguyen searched Yelp for ways to give back to her community and found The Midnight Mission. The Midnight Mission has become the place for Wendy to give to her community and receive the blessings of serving others.

Wendy’s first volunteer experiences were lending a hand on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. Wendy loved the connections she made with our unsheltered neighbors during our holiday events. She cherished the time to sit down, talk with people, and share stories.

Making people smile gave Wendy such joy, especially the children in our community. Wendy grew up with humble beginnings. Her parents were working class, and she remembers when kind people would lend a hand to her family. When Wendy could hand a child a Christmas present or give a tired mother a holiday meal, she felt like she was offering a hand up like the one her family had received years ago. The appreciation of the faces of our guests makes every volunteer hour worth it to Wendy.

Despite loving the interactions with the community, when Wendy heard TMM needed help behind the scenes in the kitchen before our events, she stepped into the task. Wendy helped prep, cook, and heat everything for TMM to serve thousands of Skid Row community guests. She tirelessly worked the graveyard shift to ensure no one would be hungry on a holiday.

Former Executive Chef Richard Ramirez was a great mentor for Wendy. She keeps a framed picture of him in her office. TMM has been a safe place where Wendy feels most appreciated, supported, and productive. Wendy fell in love with our Skid Row community and made a commitment to help even more. Every month, Wendy drives 65 miles one way just to serve lunch to our unsheltered guests.

Wendy said she wanted to lead by example and motivate others to volunteer. She has invited her friends to help serve at TMM, made to-go lunches in her kitchen for our community during Covid-19, and organized toy drives for children at Christmas time. She said she is blessed and wants to share her blessing with others. We are grateful for Wendy’s love and dedication to our Skid Row community.

Bruce lived in Skid Row for over 20 years. Bruce was physically, mentally, and spiritually exhausted. He had been to every mission in Skid Row multiple times but never stayed or was able to change.

Bruce ate all his meals at The Midnight Mission and would hang out and play games when the TMM TV room was open. He came to Laughter With a Mission to support a friend who performed at our open mic. TMM had become the beacon of hope Bruce needed.

Bruce was attracted to the reputation of TMM. The people who graduated from TMM walked and looked a certain way, and he wanted what they had. Bruce would watch TMM’s Director of Security, Marcus Butler. He knew Marcus graduated from the program years ago, and he saw how Marcus was consistent and kind to people.

Bruce came into the Recovery Program willing to do anything. He threw himself into the classes, taking direction from the advocates. His life was set on a new course. He has connected the dots of his life, understanding the consequences of his decisions, and he has found inner peace. Bruce loves to give back to TMM. He works as a volunteer in residential services and looks for ways to be of service.

Stacy Dozier was born in 1970 in Lakewood, Ohio. When she was 18, she came to California with her boyfriend because she wanted a different life.

Stacy’s first stay at The Midnight Mission was in 2015 because she was evicted from her apartment. She utilized TMM’s services for nine months, then moved to Bakersfield for five years. In 2021, Stacy suffered from domestic violence and returned to The Midnight Mission’s Crisis and Bridge program. She tried to leave TMM and live with her daughter, but it did not work out. After being away from TMM, she realized that the services had actually been helping her, and she enrolled back into the program.

Stacy is improving her coping skills to help her live responsibly on her own. She has tapped into a power greater than herself that gives her strength. As part of her healing, she journals about her life. Stacy is writing a book, “Who I Am,” about her childhood. She actively participates in holistic measures like acupuncture, meditation, breathing, and therapy to treat stress healthily and productively. Stacy accepts and loves herself and is working toward a better life. She has been sober since April 21, 2021.

Stacy’s smile lights up the room. She is friendly and outgoing and loves to help people. Her next goal is to obtain permanent housing. Because of the services at TMM, Stacy has been allowed to rebuild her life.

Angela de Los Santos never imagined she would end up homeless. She and her six kids had their own place, but the conditions were deplorable. The kitchen ceiling was missing for months, and mice and cockroaches were coming into her home. Angela went to court thinking the judge would make her landlord fix everything and reimburse Angela for repairs she had made on her own. The judge told Angela that her landlord was a poor little old lady, and Angela needed to pay her the back rent. He advised the landlord that she could fix the apartment when she could.

Angela took her back rent to stay at a motel in Hollywood, but the money ran out in less than a month. She would take her kids to school, where they were able to eat breakfast and lunch. Angela would work to provide another night in the motel room. She did not make enough tips to afford permanent housing, so Angela provided her children with whatever she could from day to day.

On the route to the children’s school, she would see someone from PATH outreach. Every day, the outreach worker would ask her if she was ready to get help and come to The Midnight Mission Family Living Program. Angela had images in her head of what a mission looked like: full of alcoholic men, and she wanted no part of it. Until one day, right before Christmas, she was willing to see what The Midnight Mission (TMM) had to offer. Angela remembers being adopted by an agency for Christmas. She was overwhelmed to tears when someone from the agency asked if she could pray with her.

Angela and her children were finally on the road to recovery from homelessness. Angela knew she needed an education. She heard of other women going to a school in South Bay. Although she was not enrolled, she was determined to get an education. Angela slipped into the back of the class to learn everything she could. The teacher found out she was not on the roster, but she was so impressed with Angela’s determination, she found a sponsor to pay for her education.

She went from not knowing how to turn on a computer to be proficient in Microsoft Office. She began working, saving enough money to buy and car and move into her own apartment with her children. AmeriCorp asked Angela to be a part of a pilot program in Skid Row. She became a street-based outreach connector. She would reach out to people in the homeless community and connect them with critical services they might need to make a fresh start.

Through AmeriCorp, Angela was able to transform her ideas and passion into service. She grew while working with a team with the same goals and visions to help people experiencing homelessness. She discovered more than one right way to complete a task, and the essential quality of working together was unity.

In 2006, after opening Christmas gifts with her family, Angela was leaving to go to downtown Los Angeles to hand out Christmas gifts to homeless children. Then seven years old, Angela’s son, left his new toys to go downtown with her to help other children. When he graduated high school, he became an AmeriCorps member, motivated to serve by his mother’s example.

In 2017, Angela decided to go back to school full time to advance her professional career and is scheduled to graduate in 2021. She worked as an independent outreach coordinator, helping those who are in the same place she once was. In 2021, Angela became a community health worker program manager at Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Angela wants everyone to know it is never too late to start over and to learn something new.

Clancy Imislund, Managing Director of The Midnight Mission since 1974, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2020. For 46 years, he worked relentlessly, helping disenfranchised people in Skid Row find a pathway to self-sufficiency. Clancy is known worldwide for his leadership in the 12-step community, speaking globally to bring a message of life-saving hope to those in the darkest places.

Among his many accomplishments, Clancy was responsible for bringing the 12-step philosophy to The Midnight, establishing the organization as one of the first providers of addiction treatment on Skid Row, earning him the title, “The King of Skid Row.” Clancy has said that what The Midnight Mission does “is the difference between giving a hungry person a fish and teaching them how to fish.”

Clancy led The Midnight through the many dramatic changes occurring on Skid Row over the past five decades. During his tenure, he saw drastic changes in the population, which began to include not only homeless men but women and children, too. Clancy championed the Capital Campaign to build TMM’s facility at 601 S. San Pedro Street, which opened in 2005 to handle the diverse populations The Midnight Mission now serves.

TMM President & CEO Mike Arnold stated, “Clancy has been part of The Midnight Mission family for almost 50 years, and has a special place in our lives, and our hearts. He was my mentor, my advocate, my fellow Norwegian, who always understood and loved my Olli and Olaf jokes, and a kindred spirit in his desire to help people live better lives than they ever imagined for themselves. We can and should celebrate that we had the opportunity to spend so much time with this man whose presence was always larger than life, and recognize that we may never meet anyone who has left a bigger footprint on not only The Midnight Mission but the world at large than our friend, Clancy.”

Where Clancy’s life ended was a far cry from where he began. He was born in the small town of Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1927. At the tender age of fifteen, Clancy left home, joined the Merchant Marines, marked his sixteenth birthday in Pearl Harbor, and then joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. After the war, while in college, Clancy began drinking with other Veterans and growing more dependent on alcohol. Despite not liking the taste, he continued to drink because it was “the thing to do.” Alcohol slowly took control of his life, and after a 15 year downhill battle, Clancy found himself alone and penniless on the streets of Skid Row. He had lost everything, his career as a successful marketing executive, friends, and his family. Only the clothes on his back and portable typewriter remained, which he pawned for ten dollars so he could function a bit longer.

When Clancy was thrown out of The Midnight on October 31, 1958, after a brief scuffle, no one dreamed that one day he would return to become the organization’s leader. Back out on the street again, Clancy realized he had finally hit bottom. His recovery began by his walking 71 blocks, in the rain, to an alcoholic rehabilitation center on Wilshire and Fairfax. Upon entering, Clancy was finally willing to do whatever it might take to get his life back. Under the instruction of a mentor, Clancy found a job, a plan for life, and began his journey on the road of recovery.

After five years of sobriety and laborious progress on his part, his wife and family reunited. He made his way back into the work world and, after some time, became an executive at KHJ radio and television in Los Angeles, where he was instrumental in introducing the “boss radio” format. During this time, he began working with alcoholics and speaking to civic groups about alcoholism and rehabilitation. He had found his passion in helping others get their lives back. No one could describe alcoholism or talk to “drunks” the way that Clancy could.

“Clancy Imislund was the Jonas Salk of recovery,” TMM supporter and friend, actor/activist Ed Begley, Jr. explained. “With 12 steps (and often 12 good jokes), he could inoculate a large room, or one lonely and desperate soul with a cure that, unlike polio, didn’t last a lifetime, but one manageable a day at a time. The millions of people that he touched around the world will never be the same.”

In 1974, Clancy was enjoying a second successful career in publishing and radio promotion, when a member of TMM’s Board of Directors asked if he knew of any candidates that were qualified for the Managing Director position. He could find no one that would take the job and decided to do it himself on an interim basis. Clancy discovered his true calling and was so effective using his talents that he stayed on permanently.

Over the years, Clancy had a profound impact at The Midnight and in the lives of the thousands of people who have come through our doors. Clancy brought an unmatchable level of empathy and understanding to the organization. TMM Board member and former President and CEO Larry Adamson wrote, “A great man has been called to his place in God’s kingdom. Everywhere I traveled and spoke of The Midnight Mission, Clancy’s name would immediately become the subject. He was a man who had more impact on humanity than anyone I ever had the privilege to know. God, thank you for allowing me the privilege to have shared the leadership of The Midnight Mission with him. Until we meet again, my brother, until we meet again. Rest in Peace.”

Never one to mince words, Clancy was known for his direct, no-nonsense demeanor, but also his approachability. He always seemed to have the time to listen and provide a few words of wisdom. To say that Clancy was the heart and soul of The Midnight would be an understatement. Clancy saved homeless lives, as well as the lives of alcoholics all over the world. He offered hope to everyone: rich and poor, those living in tents and boxes, and those living in Beverly Hills mansions. They would all come to the Midnight to get his help to beat alcoholism. Longtime friend and TMM supporter, entertainer Dick Van Dyke said of Clancy, “He was one of a kind. How many of us owe our lives to him?!”

The cornerstone to recovery is one alcoholic helping another alcoholic. For over 61 years, Clancy lived a life that mattered and showed others by his example, how helping one person help another could make an enormous difference to those whom the world may consider hopeless. The traditions he established will have a ripple effect on the lives of those who knew him and will continue to impact for generations to come. “Clancy was the most influential person in my life,” TMM board member and friend Steve Watson said. “He taught me that it is our great honor to be able to help another human being, no matter what their pain or suffering or needs are. He helped give me a purpose for my life, and that is to help my fellow man, woman, or child.”

To carry on his legacy, Clancy leaves his five children, fifteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and thousands of friends who considered him their teacher and mentor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte, and his son.

If you were to ask anyone at The Midnight Mission, “Do you know Susie?” chances are they’ll say yes. 2019 Golden Heart Recipient Susie Siverts isn’t just a Midnight Mission volunteer; she is THE Midnight Mission volunteer. Since 2013, she has dedicated her time, effort, and delicious baked goods to our organization with a smile and an open heart. But before Susie called The Midnight Mission her home away from home, she saw it as only one thing – her last hope to save her son’s life.

Shane had just been released from prison, and it was time for him to enter a drug-treatment program. Susie had been sober since 1988 and knew Clancy Imislund, The Midnight Mission’s Managing Director. She was a member of a 12-step group founded by Clancy. But Shane’s probation officer wanted Shane to try a different treatment program instead of coming to The Midnight Mission. When Susie told Clancy that, he responded in his loving yet brusque *Clancy way,* “Call me when he gets drunk again,” and promptly hung up the phone. Sure enough, Shane did just that and finally entered The Midnight Mission’s Healthy Living Program and, before long, was on his way toward sustained sobriety.

Before his time in prison, there was a period of THREE YEARS where Susie had no idea where Shane was or if he was alive or dead. With no sense of direction and no way to find him, there was nothing she could do but wait. When they were finally reunited, Shane’s drug-use had caused irreversible brain damage. Throughout his prison sentence, and in the weeks immediately after, they searched for a suitable program to enroll him. Susie knew there was one thing that had always helped her son thrive, even when he was a child: structure. The Midnight Mission’s Healthy Living Program offered that and was the perfect place for Shane.

From the moment Susie dropped Shane off, she knew that they had made the right choice. Our Director of Philanthropy David Prentice greeted them, then an Advocate. Susie and David were friends, so she knew her son was in good hands. The Midnight Mission gave Shane more than a bridge to sobriety and self-sufficiency; it gave him the structure he needed to succeed and friendships with fellow Midnight Mission Alumni, founded on mutual-support and camaraderie.

According to Susie, The Midnight Mission saved her son’s life. And it is for that reason she feels she can’t give enough back to our organization. She volunteers for every holiday, and special event, consistently brings in new volunteers to join our community, and spreads hope and good cheer throughout the TMM. “I look at everyone here, guests and program participants, and know that they’re no different from me. I was them not too long ago. Some of them just need a warm hug and a friend. That’s what I want to be.”

From a young age, Director Dr. Ronald Koretz wanted to do something to help people. This desire led him to become a physician to care for people. Then, the reality of the business of medicine in the 1970s set in. The field had become like every other industry, driven by money. LA County offered Director Koretz an opportunity to serve people who had no access to healthcare. He went on to work within the county system helping others on a shoestring budget for 32 years.

Because of the lack of money available, there was always competition between departments for funding. Director Koretz had a vision of collaborating and pooling their resources for the client’s good, but the idea did not take off.

Director Koretz grew up with a father involved in a Masonic lodge. He was familiar with the organization and drawn to the camaraderie. When he asked his father how to become a Mason, his mother laughed. His father had been carrying around an application for years, waiting for him to ask. The way to become a Mason is to ask a Mason. He went to his first meeting, and a man came up to him, shook his hand, and asked how he was doing. The man stood there, waiting for a reply, honestly wanting to know how Director Koretz was. Director Koretz found the support and friendships he longed for within the lodge.

He met men who influenced him. One of those men was on the Board of Directors at The Midnight Mission (TMM), and another had recently become CEO. The lodge members knew about The Midnight Mission; they had been donating clothes to raise money for the work they do in Skid Row. At TMM’s annual fundraiser, he was approached to become a board member. He has served on the board for over 20 years now.

Director Koretz’s involvement with TMM fulfilled his need to do something that would be good for society, especially people who are limited in what they can do for themselves. He also helped with the thrift shop in east LA., another avenue to give back to the community.

Director Koretz facilitated the conversation at TMM around the Healthy Living Program. Measuring our success has always been a challenge. He met with the staff to create a measure of the success of the participants at TMM. One measure is if the men are showing up for recovery meetings. They discovered being sober was just the beginning of self-sufficiency. To measure independence, you had to look at every area of a participant’s life: sobriety, education, housing, and transportation. The committee investigated each domain’s characteristics and what it would entail for these goals to be met. The Healthy Living Program aims to give the graduates a chance at healthier lives, and with each domain accomplished, the participant thrives. In creating a life of healthy living, you change the entire world for one person.

The Midnight Mission is thankful for Director Koretz and his unique leadership to facilitate conversations to help our participants become successful and contributing members of society. With his leadership, we have taken great strides in assisting people to become the people they were meant to be.

If you were to talk with Antonio, you would be amazed at his unmeasured humility. His demeanor is full of gratitude and compassion for every person he meets. His life is one of an unsung hero, caring for the homeless community’s needs in Los Angeles quietly and without any need for accolades.

Antonio has come a long way since entering The Midnight Mission’s program in 2007. He came through the doors looking for a path to overcome his addiction to have a relationship with his children. What Antonio found was an entirely new way of life. He participated in TMM’s Work Therapy program, beginning in residential services, then transferring to Security in 2008.

Antonio’s desire to spend quality time with his eleven children was realized. He is an active father in their lives, celebrating their achievements and encouraging them when they need motivation.

Antonio is a natural encourager who works behind the scenes as one of TMM’s unsung heroes. Antonio is motivated not by personal success but by helping other people, and he loves the people of Skid Row. In his time off, you can find him walking on Sixth and San Pedro Streets, talking to our homeless neighbors. He gets to know people, listening to their struggles, and empathizing with their needs. He enjoys hearing about different backgrounds and lifestyles to understand how people came to live in Skid Row. Without fanfare, he will take those in need food or water. He will invite them to come to take a shower, get clean clothes, or even enter the program at TMM. Antonio has a truly altruistic spirit, giving back what was so freely given to him.

Marcus Butler, Director of Security at TMM, describes Antonio as a dependable, effective, and dedicated employee. Antonio comes to work every day, never taking a sick day, and never wanting to take a day off. His director must make him take his vacation. Antonio does whatever it takes to get the job done with his indescribable passion for what TMM does to help people on their path of self-sufficiency. Antonio’s easygoing attitude gives him the ability to get along with everyone: guests, staff, volunteers, and clients.

Antonio, we want you to know we recognize your effort and heart for the people we serve every day, and we thank you!

Laura Hand started volunteering at different organizations in Skid Row, and she fell in love. Laura said she got a sense of peace and comfort when she drove into the community, and she wanted to get more involved. A friend told her to check out The Midnight Mission.

Laura heard the story of a homeless woman named Rose, and she decided she wanted to illustrate people’s stories. She knows many will not travel to Skid Row, but Laura could share the stories of the people who deeply affected her.

Laura came up with the idea to make a documentary to tell the stories of those who live in Skid Row. The basis for the documentary is a fictional character, the Tent Mender. Through the Tent Mender, we hear real stories of people and their experience in Skid Row. Laura interviewed various staff and participants at The Midnight Mission. The people of The Midnight Mission are the story of the Tent Mender. She said it is the heart of the people at The Midnight Mission who make it what it is.

While at The Midnight Mission, she discovered a real way the Tent Mender could mend. She searched to find a corporate partner to renovate the laundry room at The Midnight Mission. When she approached Proctor and Gamble (P & G), explaining the purpose of the documentary, they were on board to do something for a higher purpose. When P & G visited TMM, they were blown away by the stories and heartbeat of The Midnight Mission.

Once COVID-19 struck, Laura went from just hearing stories to being of service. Laura and three of her friends came every day to work in the kitchen and distributed meals until volunteer services were suspended due to pandemic. Laura said The Midnight Mission kitchen staff exudes love. They invited her and her friends into TMM family.

These experiences in Skid Row changed Laura. Before experiencing the homeless community in Skid Row and the people at The Midnight Mission, she had questions of the existence of God. Every story of transformation she heard moved her to a state of faith she did not know was possible. When she walks into TMM, there is a presence that cannot be described with words but can be felt fully with the heart. Laura went to Skid Row to help others, and in return, she found God.

Stephanie Moya was born and raised in Van Nuys, CA. She came to the HomeLight Family Living Program in July 2019. She has just given birth to her youngest son, David, and was staying in a sober living house. A friend suggested she go to HLFL with her newborn son.

At 27, Stephanie had never lived on her own. Before going to sober living, she resided with her grandparents and had gotten used to having someone else take care of her. She felt she was incapable of living alone and raising her child by herself. Stephanie established a great support group at HomeLight Family Living that holds her accountable. Other residents, who are sharing their life lessons, supply Stephanie with continual encouragement and hope, showing her what is most important. An alumnus of the HLFL program helped babysit her child so that Stephanie could go to work and not have to worry about his safety and wellbeing. With continued support, Stephanie learned how to be self-sufficient.

HomeLight Family Living program has given Stephanie stability. When she came to HLFL, she enrolled in school, and this brought her closer to achieving her career goals. Another goal in progress for Stephanie is to obtain custody of her oldest son, Arsen. Although it has been a rocky road, Stephanie has the endurance to continue to fight to have her son with her.

Stephanie learned the joy of giving. She was amazed and felt blessed to receive the services of the program. She received parenting classes, mental health services, school opportunities, and volunteer opportunities. Because of the enormous impact HLFL had on her life, Stephanie put her gratitude in action by volunteering at the HLFL parent organization, The Midnight Mission (TMM). After being at HLFL for six months, she met a single mother of four, who was new to the program. When Stephanie saw her friend going through similar problems Stephanie had gone through, she extended her hand to help. She remembered the kindness shown to her, and she knew she wanted to give hope to anyone who was struggling.

Stephanie has an entirely new outlook on life. She can admit when she is wrong instead of looking for someone else to blame. She admits her faults and keeps her side of the “street” clean. She has found new solutions for problems that would otherwise baffle her. She has learned it is ok to depend on others and to have others rely on her. Keeping in touch with her accountability partners lets her carry on with her responsibilities as a single mother.

Stephanie wants to thank HomeLight for allowing her the opportunity to get her life together when she had no more options left. There is no greater gift than being stable enough to be a mother to her children.

“Should you ever need help, know that you do not have to do anything alone, ever again. You will always have someone willing to help you at any time.”

Wanda Lee first heard about The Midnight Mission through the alumni association at the Harvard Business School. The association contacted Wanda about a need for volunteers to help during LA Finance Care Week five years ago. She committed to volunteer for the entire week.

It just so happened her birthday was during the week she committed to volunteer. Instead of having a party, Wanda invited her friends to help her serve at The Midnight Mission. She and her friends had a blast meeting and talking with people in the community. Our homeless neighbors engaged with Wanda, and she loved hearing their stories and learning more about them.

Wanda became a regular volunteer during the holidays, helping to sort the toys to be distributed to needy children on Christmas day. Wanda said The Midnight Mission made her feel safe and comfortable every time she volunteered. She could see what she was doing had a direct impact on our homeless community. Wanda looks forward to being hands-on again when the COVID-19 restrictions lessen. But until then, she is finding creative ways to help from afar. Blessed in life, Wanda wants to bless others in whatever way she can, and she encourages others to do the same.

Donald Holt has a passion for people experiencing homeless and has been working to help homeless individuals for over 14 years. After graduating from college, he became an outreach worker for the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA). Donald also worked with CalWorks Families Project as a program manager and with Volunteers of America. Today, he is The Midnight Mission’s OC Courtyard’s Director.

Donald says, “working with and assisting people experiencing homelessness in different capacities and at all levels of the field has been an eye-opening, humbling, and extremely rewarding opportunity.” Donald works hard to ensure those who are underserved have a voice and receive the services they need with dignity and respect.

He says he loves to work for The Midnight Mission. The Midnight Mission has an over a 106-year track record for serving the homeless community in Skid Row, and Donald believes this foundation speaks volumes. Donald has seen a lot throughout his career, and he states, “TMM is an organization that continues to fight to end homelessness, and I am happy to be a part of that tradition.”

Donald loves to help give people the tools they need for a new beginning. One of Donald’s most memorable experiences while working with TMM was getting to witness one of the residents reunite with their family after being separated for ten years! The Midnight Mission has provided Donald with a place to fulfill his passionate purpose and we are grateful he is part of TMM family.

Wendy Ordower from the Milken School has brought students to volunteer at The Midnight Mission for the past fifteen years. The mission of Milken School is to create a world in which every person is treated B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God – infinitely valuable, unique, and equal. With this core value in place, they are committed to building and embracing the community.

One of the ways to build community is through a partnership circle. The Midnight Mission is part of Milken’s circle, and they are willing to do whatever is needed to help The Midnight Mission bring hope to our neighbors in Skid Row.

The partnership between Milken and The Midnight Mission started with schoolwide days of service. The students first learn from an intellectual viewpoint, studying how to treat others with dignity and kindness, and the concept of taking care of others. The students are taught the importance of not separating from the community.

Before COVID-19, the students would come to TMM to have first-hand experience with people in the community. They would walk into the courtyard and see the 12 steps etched to the doorway. Once inside, they handed out food, picked up trays, or helped someone disabled get food. Being hands-on gave them an experience beyond what they could learn in a book. On the tour of the facility, they heard how people connected to God through the recovery process.

After leaving The Midnight Mission, the students have a period of reflection of what they saw and heard. One thing that set The Midnight Mission apart from other missions is that TMM is not faith-based, yet through the twelve-step philosophy, people had found the faith they need to recover.

At one of the visits to TMM, the students encountered a program participant in the small dining room. He had just received a new pair of shoes. The man’s joy overflowed as he shared his journey to The Midnight Mission. He was authentic and so moved the students that they wanted to reach back out to him. These lessons in connection to the community go beyond the learning capacity in a classroom. The visits to The Midnight Mission provided students with the opportunity to connect with people in the community they would not have otherwise met.

Wendy said the students have experience in tzedakah, which refers to giving to those in need. She went on to say these honor students are our future leaders, policymakers, and officials. Their volunteer time at The Midnight Mission helps shape the adults they will become. Being deeply committed to service prepares them for a future where they can help shape more connected communities.

We want to express our sincere gratitude to our friend Wendy who is the driving force behind this meaningful partnership. Not only have the students been enlightened by the experience, so have our staff and the people we serve. We look forward to welcoming back the Milken students soon.

Michelle is a Mom of two teenagers with a full-time job. After 19 years of living in a verbally abusive relationship, she had to find a new beginning. The end of that relationship left her without hope, and her bank account depleted.

Michelle and her children stayed with her brother and his six kids for a short time. Then, they stayed at Outward Bound for a few months, until they told Michelle she made too much money to stay. Michelle talked to her caseworker about finding help before she would be forced to live in a car with her children.

Michelle’s caseworker recommended she apply at HomeLight Family Living. Acceptance into the program filled Michelle with hope. She is grateful for the opportunity to step back and look at herself. The staff at HomeLight encouraged her to look at the whole picture, and they are not afraid to tell her the truth about herself and her circumstances. She has learned not to worry about tomorrow and to stay in the gift of the present.

Michelle credits HomeLight Family Living for making her a better Mom. Being empowered to stand with confidence on her own two feet, she is now leading her children by example. Michelle has learned the art of listening to her children and seeing them for who they are. She is encouraging them to go where their dreams are leading them, not where she thinks they should go.

Michelle learned how to budget, and she has saved money for a down payment on a home of her own. She watched her credit score increase as she made financially responsible decisions. With the help of the staff at HomeLight, she improved her capacity in the workforce and is asserting herself to succeed.

Looking back, Michelle is grateful to have been chosen to participate in the program. She is thankful for the chance to get her life together. She has been given a new perspective. Michelle realizes she didn’t do anything wrong to end up as a homeless statistic. She knows homelessness can happen to anyone, but it is not a place someone has to stay. She says she is blessed to have a second chance at life.

Matt grew up in Northern California with his Mom, Dad, brother, and sister. He has fond memories of hunting and fishing with his brother. Stronger than these recollections are ones of living in a house with an abusive, alcoholic father. Matt recalls watching his Mom endure physical beatings. When he was six years old, Matt’s Dad left the family.

With his father’s leaving, Matt was now the man of the house. He would help his Mom with his siblings, quitting school in eighth grade to work in the fields. Matt suffered from prejudice from his uncles and cousins. Being biracial made him a target for their bullying and violence. He found himself fighting with them to protect himself. The combination of abandonment from his father and abuse from his family planted a seed of shame.

Matt’s Mom got remarried, and Papa Joe became a real father to Matt. He showed Matt love and taught him the skills to be a man. When Matt was 25, his beloved mother passed away from cancer. Two months later, Papa Joe died. Matt didn’t know how to handle the pain of their deaths, so he turned to what he had seen his father turn to, drugs and alcohol.

As he turned away from his family and into his addiction, Matt lost all contact with his siblings and children. He stepped into the life of gangs and prisons. He watched one by one as his friends died from overdoses or were shot down in cold blood. He thanks God for being what he calls a “bad criminal.” Matt said he was always getting caught. At the time, he thought it was bad luck. Today, Matt thanks God for sitting him in “time out.” He believes these “time outs” helped save his life by getting him off the streets for extended periods.

Anna was someone who was special to Matt. They had a relationship filled with drugs, alcohol, and running the streets. Matt watched Anna suffer from the effects of methamphetamines. In the end, she went to the hospital with an enlarged heart. Matt’s warrants caught up to him, and he was arrested. Instead of being with Anna as she took her last breath, Matt sat in a dim jail cell.

Anna’s death was a turning point for Matt. He looked around his life, and all he saw was death and destruction. He made a decision it would be the last time he would be incarcerated. He wanted a different life. One year later, he was out of jail, and he had nowhere to go. He ended up going to Anna’s grave. He spent three days at the cemetery, determined to walk away from the life of drugs and crime.

Matt hadn’t talked to his brother in 15 years. When he called to tell him where he was, his brother came to pick him up. His brother opened his home for Matt to have a place to rest his head. He stayed there for three weeks, then went to stay with his son. Matt wanted more from life; he wanted to live a life of self-sufficiency. Matt’s brother-in-law worked with the Rotary Club and secured him a bed at The Midnight Mission.

On April 11, 2019, Matt began his journey with The Midnight Mission. He credits TMM for the best year of his life. In the past year, Matt has found his identity. He said it had been a beautiful journey getting to know himself. He found out he is a loving person who cares about others. Matt is reliable and responsible.

His actions match his words. Matt is currently working two jobs, one at The Midnight Mission, and the other one at Chrysalis. Matt used to work in construction, making a lot of money, but the money never lasted in his previous lifestyle. Today, Matt stated work isn’t about the money you make; it’s about giving back. When he goes to bed after a long day of work, he sleeps well.

Matt spends time each day reading his Bible. He says it helps keep him centered on what is important. He has found he does not have to live his life in shame, and he is confident to continue his recovery and this way of life. He has experienced healing of the heartache he has endured. With help from The Midnight Mission staff, Matt has made peace with his past and is focusing on the future.

The relationships Matt neglected during the years in his addiction are being reconciled. He talks to his brother and sister often. On his birthday, he was surprised by the food lovingly brought by his sister. Matt rejoices in the love he has found in his family. He is hopeful of reuniting with his children when the time is right.

Matt is determined to make the right decisions. He has found a healthy way of living, and he wants to build on it. Through his recovery, he has been given a new pair of glasses. Matt can see red flags and can act intuitively with wisdom. He desires to have peace with himself and with others, and he has decided to let nothing get in his way.

Matt will graduate from The Midnight Mission’s participant program in June of 2020. His dream job is to work in security at TMM. He looks back on his life, and he can see how many times he should have been dead. But, now he has a new beginning. His greatest desire is to provide hope to other men, like himself, who come to The Midnight Mission in complete despair. He said if he could help guide just one person to a new life and to offer support like he has been given, he will have eternal treasures.

After a lifelong battle with trauma-related mental health issues, drug addiction, abusive relationships, and a total lack of self-worth, Sara Gabriel was in constant conflict. She wanted nothing more in the world than live a healthy, joyful, loving life and to be able to provide for her child, who she loved more than anything.

Instead, she and her son struggled due to her choices, and she was driven by a disease that convinced her she was only self-medicating. She was barely surviving and living an utterly unmanageable life. She knew she was not the only one paying the price; her son was suffering the consequences, too. The shame and guilt were eating her alive. Depression and anxiety ran her life, and she couldn’t see a way out. Sara found herself unable to care for herself and her son, and her son went to stay with his father.

Sara soon found herself homeless and hopeless. For the next six years, she lived on the streets, in bushes, or in a tent. She didn’t know that she was being prepared for the most important surrender of her life. Sara finally reached the bitter end after 26 years of active addiction. After looking for relief in everything outside herself and only creating more harm, enough was enough.

At 38 years old, Sara was pulled from the trenches. She got help, got clean, and did the work. Sara faced her choices and took responsibility for her life. She truly began to recover. God gifted Sara the chance to reconnect with her son; he welcomed her back. But, she had no place for them to live. The most heartbreaking thing was to be reunited with him yet have no place to call home. Then, God placed another miracle in their lives in the form of HomeLight Family Living, a program of The Midnight Mission.

Sara says, “HomeLight gave us so much more than a home. It gave us a team of people, our angels on earth, who taught us how to believe in ourselves as they guided us through the process of stability. It gave us safety and security. They poured hope into our lives and love into our hearts. I remember saying all I need is someone to give me a chance, and I’d promise to make the very most of it.”

Almost five years later, Sara continues to keep her promise. Her son was given so much more than a home with his mom; he was given a brighter future because of the opportunities HomeLight provided them. Sara’s passion and mission are to use her life experiences to connect with and guide others through their recovery process.

After working for an organization for about two years and completing peer support specialist training, Sara received a promotion to program coordinator and supervises and trains others in their efforts to help our underprivileged community.

She uses her rock bottom experience as a foundation for others to begin a new life. She now has a life full of love and joy she had always sought.

“A million thank yous would never be enough. Today, we live one day at a time with gratitude in our actions. We carry this message; the lie is dead. We do recover with the help of those along the way. We can find a new way to live, fully alive.”

David Abrego describes himself as open-minded, humble, easy going, motivated, honest, and an overall good person. When he came to The Midnight Mission the second time, David would not have described himself with those attributes. He had hit a new low, and he didn’t believe there was any way back up.

At 20 years old, David first visited The Midnight Mission under court order. He came from the LA County Jail after serving a one year sentence on a weapons/drug charge. He stayed at TMM for 18 months, but he did not practice a sober way of life when he left.

Sadly, David’s older brother found David living in the streets. He dropped him off at The Midnight Mission, telling David there was no other option. David was not happy to be back at TMM. He felt lost and had given up hope of ever getting sober again.

After only two weeks of being at The Midnight Mission, David realized how the program was changing his life. He knew he didn’t like himself when he drank. He knew he needed a personality change, but not the kind he used to find through drinking. While at TMM, a friend encouraged him to go back to church and connect with a God of his understanding. Today, David lives along spiritual principles and has faith that drives his actions.

David is on a path of self-sufficiency. He is going to school studying heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC). He also works in TMM’s Development Department as a Development Assistant.

David is an active member of a 12-step fellowship, attending meetings, and taking suggestions from those who came before him. David plans to take part in the TMM Alumni Club and would love to be the President of the Alumni Club someday. David would advise a newcomer to “stay out of your mind, get involved, and give sobriety a chance. If you really want it, build a foundation, because if you don’t, you’re just going to be wasting time smoking and drinking.”

I started volunteering at The Midnight Mission (when I got sober) in 1993 as a holiday volunteer. I had lost everything, hit bottom and was in the process of rebuilding my life. There was a group of people from my home group coming down to volunteer, and I just followed what everyone else was doing. Plus, I was interested in The Midnight because I have always had a deep and profound fear of being homeless. In fact, it has been one of my greatest fears most of my life. This seemed like a good way to face my fear head-on.

When I would volunteer here, I felt a kinship with the people here on our streets yet felt completely powerless to help in any way. It was heartbreaking. I had been living paycheck to paycheck for most of my life. I knew that could be me, or anyone else for that matter, that was homeless and living on our streets. In 2009, after being on disability with a back injury, it was time to get back into the work force. Since I had always felt the pull to be here, I called the Volunteer Coordinator and asked if I could start volunteering until I found a job.

The more time I spent here, the more I saw how much hope there is and how many services are available to our community. I have witnessed countless extraordinary acts of kindness by our community, staff and volunteers. I started to hear the stories of the people we serve and was able to see first-hand that lives were being changed. My fear of homelessness dissipated. I was hired as a full-time employee in 2010 – seventeen years after I had first volunteered. I have since had that opportunity to work with some of the finest people on the planet that genuinely care about our community and give selflessly of themselves daily.

I have been blessed with the opportunity to start a few programs here: Music With A Mission, Art With A Mission and Laughter With A Mission. These programs are aimed at bringing our community together through music and art. Working here really keeps things in perspective for me. It is a loud and clear reminder of my many blessings and what is important. I have a life that is filled with love and not love that is measured by the love others may feel for me, but by the immense love I have for so many people in my life. In addition, I met my musical partner, Ken Perry, here in 2010. He was a volunteer for one of the Music With A Mission programs.

I am involved in a 12 step program that has saved my life. Through the fellowship, I have been given a way to live. I have been able to clean up the wreckage of my past, mend relationships and live my life with integrity. I have been given the opportunity to speak all over the world, sharing my experience, strength and hope, which includes my involvement here at TMM. I have seen how my experience can help others. I don’t think there is a greater gift than being able to help someone else.

I’ve had so many memorable moments here and have been touched by the stories of our guests and clients. There is so much hope and love against a back drop of despair and tragedy. Some days, I just have to cry. I figure the day I stop crying is the day I need to find another job and/or check my pulse to be sure I am still alive.

I have met many wonderful people here. There is Ed, “the balloon man,” who is somehow transformed to normal while bending balloons for others. There is Elzie, “the homeless comedian”, who is truly funny and talented and lives on our streets. There was Leonard and Tony, who used to help me set up and clean up after each of my events. One year, during the Christmas season, there was a woman in the lobby charging her wheel chair. Both of her legs had been amputated, and she said she was hungry. It was in between meals, so I got her some cookies and a drink. When she reached her arms out of her coat to take the drink, I saw that she had no hands! I couldn’t believe it! I was shocked to see that people like her are homeless and left to fend for themselves on our streets. She was gracious and thankful for the gesture. I will never forget her.

There is Ron, Jay, May, Black Kennedy Lincoln and so many more that attend our events and are always so thankful. Bridgette, a beautiful woman who lives on our streets and attends our events, wrote a poem about the Music With A Mission program. It ended with these words: “Even though I am homeless, the pretty musical notes gently remind me that life is so dear. When I hear the symphony, a smile on my face appears. Yes, I have had my share of heartaches, but one thing is clear. Thanks to the musicians, this has still been my very best year.”

Today my life has meaning and purpose thanks to my sobriety and The Midnight Mission.

Georgia Berkovich
Director of Public Affairs

Like most recovering addicts in our Healthy Living Program, Randy V. has struggled with addiction pretty much his whole life. The youngest of 4 siblings, Randy was born and raised in Ontario, CA. by his single Mother. Although he came from a good family and didn’t have any tragic things happen to him, Randy still found himself taking the wrong path and using drugs and alcohol at the young age of 15 years old, unlike his siblings who graduated High School and went off to pursue their careers and start families of their own. “I used to see all the older guys in the neighborhood shooting up and I’d say to myself, I’ll never do that. And then one day, someone offered it (heroin) to me, and I was hooked ever since.”

Randy started seeing the negative effects addiction had on his life when he was around the age of 19 years old. He had his first child at the age of 20, but couldn’t quit drugs and alcohol. Randy was what we call a functioning addict. He was still able to maintain a job at a Shell gas station and hide his addiction pretty well, even from his girlfriend and Mother of his child. Randy was in and out of jail and treatment programs for periods of time. He was with the same woman and mother of his 4 children for 15 years until she passed away in 2005 from a brain aneurism. This weighed heavy on Randy, especially because he was in jail during her passing and the guilt he felt of not being there for his daughters.

Randy tried so many times to remain clean and sober but nothing clicked until he came to The Midnight Mission. He got tired of lying and hurting those he loved. In September 2013, Randy came to Los Angeles in hopes of getting into a neighboring shelter. He had all the paperwork filled out, but they didn’t have a bed available for him. He would come to The Midnight Mission to eat breakfast and one day he ran into a guy he recognized that was working security. The man told him about the Healthy Living program that The Midnight Mission had to offer to those on their path to self-sufficiency. That following Friday, Randy came back and has been here ever since.

Since he’s been at The Midnight Mission, Randy has learned how to remain clean and sober, the right way. He has learned more and more about the disease of his addiction. “I see guys that have been here as long as me, if not longer and all it takes is that one drink to put them back on the streets again. And that helps me to continue on. For once in my life I’m at peace with where I’m at. I don’t look back on life, unless it’s to see how far I’ve come.” Randy graduated from our Healthy Living Program in November 2014 and received his Certificate of Completion of drug and alcohol courses through CCAPP (California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals) in hopes to become a Drug & Alcohol counselor one day. He is also in the process of testing for his High School Diploma and is very eager to achieve that.

Staying clean and sober has helped Randy to reunite with his daughters and maintain a relationship with them again. In December 2014, his youngest daughter reached out to him through an email and they’ve been in contact ever since. “I haven’t told them about what I’ve accomplished yet, because I don’t want to continue to make promises to them that I can’t keep. They’ve been hurt enough. I want to prove it to them this time. I’m now getting invited to my Grandson’s birthday party, something I never thought would happen. I’m just happy to be back in their lives again, any way that I can.”

After volunteering and showing his strong effort and merit at California Hospital, Randy was offered a position and hired on as an Environmental Specialist, cleaning and organizing the closet where they store the donations that they receive. He also interns here at The Midnight Mission filing paperwork and doing intakes on new participants under the supervision of our Healthy Living Advocate, Rita Richardson.

“I’ve been in a lot of treatment programs and The Midnight Mission is the best one out here in Los Angeles. It may be in the worst area, but it’s the best program. The Midnight Mission has helped me with my education and court issues. The things they do for us on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, make staying sober a lot easier. Every day isn’t perfect, but if you can come in and sit still and adapt to what The Midnight Mission has to offer, you’re good. I couldn’t have done any of the things I’ve accomplished without the help from everyone here and my higher power God, of course. “

A book on the horrors of drug addiction could easily be written about Bobbie Jo’s life. At the early age of ten, she had her first taste of alcohol. “I remember adding vodka to my grape juice in my little Tasmanian Devil cup.” Not long after, at age thirteen, a friend introduced her to speed. The powder in a baggie set her on a path to ruin.

Having been abandoned by her Mom, considered the ‘Black Sheep’ at her father’s house, and under the influence of speed, Bobbie Jo began running away. “If I didn’t like something, I would just leave,” she remembers. This would set a pattern she would repeat throughout her life. At age fourteen, Bobbie Jo was arrested for fighting. She started snorting speed, and drinking became a problem. Despite trying to hide her addiction, Bobbie Jo said, “I felt rotten, like a garbage can.”

Bobbie Jo became pregnant with her first son, and six months after his birth, her mother died. Her addiction to speed escalated, and her relationship with her child’s father was toxic and rife with domestic violence. Bobbie Jo had two more children and had tried unsuccessfully to leave the abusive relationship. It was not until she was stabbed in the arm and cut on the neck in front of her children, Bobbie Jo took her children to a domestic violence shelter in Big Bear and found some refuge in classes on dysfunctional families and therapy. She was hesitant to testify against her husband but realized she had no choice when they informed her that he was going to be released.

No longer using drugs but still drinking, Bobbie Jo finally got her first apartment at age 26. Sadly, she was soon reintroduced to speed by a co-worker. Her apartment became the scene of many parties, and she was also dealing drugs. Her neighbors consistently complained, and the police visited regularly. “I had an inheritance of $56,000, which I blew through in six months. I used some of that money to send my kids to my ex-husband’s sister in Mexico for a short vacation. As the result of a family member’s dishonesty, my children were trapped there for ten months,” Bobbie Jo remembers. “I wanted to clean myself up before they came back.” Instead, Bobbie Jo’s drug use escalated as she tried to get her kids back. She lost her apartment and became homeless.” I stopped talking to my kids. It was too hard,” she says. “I was doing ecstasy and whatever drugs I could get; I had no one for support.”

Bobbie Jo ended up moving in with a man she met. At that time, her sister was trying to facilitate Bobbie Jo’s children’s move back from deep in Mexico. She was eventually successful. However, Bobbie Jo’s outstanding warrants caught up with her in an ironic way. “I woke up one morning to deputies and guns,” she says. “I was arrested on Mother’s Day, and I didn’t even realize it.” A further irony was that she was being arrested at the moment her kids were coming back to the U.S. It was bittersweet.

Bobbie Jo’s life patterns kept repeating, and she met another man and became pregnant. The ironic timing was repeated as well. “I was then arrested on a warrant in San Bernardino.” The man she was dating was now taking care of her three children. “I used to tell men that I was damaged goods,” she exclaims. “When I was in jail, I found out I was pregnant again.” This situation spiraled down as her boyfriend was arrested for stealing cars. Out of jail with no place to go, Bobbie Jo and her children moved from motel to shelter to motel. When her boyfriend was released, they managed to find an affordable apartment. She had her baby and isolated herself. “I was trying to stay sober,” Bobbie Jo says.

With her fourth child just four months old, Bobbie Jo relapsed again. Not surprisingly, there were domestic violence issues again. “He went back to jail, and I lost the apartment. It was then I realized that I had a problem with speed and needed help,” Bobbie Jo admits.

Still using drugs and bouncing from friend to friend, her sister had given up on Bobbie Jo. While at a shelter in Skid Row, someone called the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Her three oldest children were at her sister’s, and her baby was with her at a shelter. DCFS approached Bobbie Jo and her baby daughter and realized the obvious; Bobbie Jo was under the influence of drugs. They took custody of her baby and all three of her children living with her sister. Bobbie Jo’s children were separated and placed in homes in Corona, Lancaster, Granada Hills, and West L.A. Bobbie Jo made the commitment to become sober and drug-free on June 13, 2014. “That’s the moment I changed,” Bobbie Jo says. “I was hanging out on San Pedro Street in Skid Row, crying.”

Knowing the only direction left to go was up, Bobbie Jo found a 12-step program and began working the program at Mini-House to achieve complete sobriety. By September, having stayed drug and alcohol-free and employed, she was awarded custody of her baby daughter by the judge. “I didn’t want my baby to affect my program, so I found a daycare for her. She was comfortable there from the first time I took her,” Bobbie Jo says. “I was six months inpatient before going into sober living. That was the process.”

Through her 12-step work at Mini-House, Bobbie Jo encountered Rebecca, her ‘sobriety sister.’ Rebecca was in HomeLight Family Living, a program offered by The Midnight Mission to families transitioning out of homelessness. “My 12-step sponsor requested a referral, and my DCFS worker was very helpful,” Bobbie Jo remembers. “It was hard for me. I had never had all four of my kids while sober. I remember moving in on October 15, and my youngest daughter saw the playground and was so excited. It felt normal like it was my home.”

Safe, secure, and sober in The Midnight Mission’s HomeLight Family Living Program, Bobbie Jo was able to get a job to support her four children. She learned how to be a good mother to her two sons and two daughters, who ranged in age from five to eighteen years at that time. She was able to attend meetings and work with her sponsor. She was finally able to become a fully functional member of society.

After leaving HomeLight, Bobbie Jo worked to help people on general release find employment. She helped them develop and write resumes. Bobbie Jo also assisted them in a job search. She loved her job helping people, but she needed a higher paying job to ensure she would not return to homelessness.

Because she completed the job-readiness program herself, Bobbie Jo was given new opportunities. She was accepted into a paid internship with the LA Medical Coroner’s office as a property custodian. Anytime anyone is brought into the coroner’s office, their property is picked up and inventoried. Bobbie Jo witnesses the inventory and then creates a letter for the next of kin to release the items to their care. The most satisfying part of her job is helping those who have lost a loved one through this process. She has found being helpful in a tough time gives families comfort.

The internship at the LA County Coroner’s office is for two years. Upon completion, Bobbie Jo hopes to have a permanent position with the county. For the first time in her life, she has a job with medical insurance and a 401K. These benefits are beyond what Bobbie Jo imagined for her life. To get a permanent position would enable her to buy her own home for her family.

In addition to work, Bobbie Jo continues to better herself. She is studying to complete her GED. She also continues to work a 12-step program to grow spiritually. While striving toward these goals, Bobbie Jo was presented with an opportunity to be of service to her father. When her Dad had health complications, Bobbie Jo decided to have him move into her apartment.

Bobbie Jo said she sometimes wakes up and thinks she must be dreaming because her life is so great today. It is better than she could have ever imagined, and she can’t wait to see what the next chapters bring. She knows if she does the footwork and leaves the results up to God, everything will be wonderful.

“I am forever grateful to The Midnight Mission for programs like this. I was given a chance when I really needed it.”

For more information on HomeLight Family Living, visit www.midnightmission.org/homelight.

Torrey grew up in Atlanta, GA, the youngest of four children. When he was seven years old, his parents got divorced. He had to go back and forth between the two homes. Torrey found stability in sports, going to the Boys Club and the YMCA.

When Torrey was 17 years old, he had his first drink, which changed his life. Alcohol gave him great confidence, and he would drink whenever he could. Drinking led to marijuana, then crack cocaine. The drugs took Torrey over the edge, and he was spiraling out of control.

Torrey met a girl in Atlanta, and they had a child together. She moved back to her home in New York, and Torrey followed her there. He wanted to be a good father to his child, but alcohol and drugs took over, and he could not be the father he wanted to be. He was unstable and unable to hold a job for very long.

Torrey moved back to Atlanta, but by this time, everyone knew he had a substance abuse problem. He decided to move to a small town in Alabama to change scenery, thinking it would be his chance for a new beginning. He got a job as a waiter, but he did not have the power to stop his addiction. He started to steal, and he was fired.

Torrey moved to Colorado and Texas, trying to escape his addiction, but he couldn’t move away from himself. Every place he moved, he brought himself and his destructive behaviors. He started going to prison, and each time would wonder why he kept doing the things he didn’t want to do.

Leaving prison for the last time, Torrey decided to go to 12-step meetings. He wanted to live a different life. The people he heard at the meetings planted the seed of recovery in him. Deep down, he knew he wanted to be sober and help people, but he wasn’t willing to get sober yet.

Torrey decided a fresh start in a new town with his new knowledge was what he needed. He had a sister who lived in San Diego. When he called her to say he wanted to come, he detected from the tone of her voice that she would not be happy about him moving to San Diego.

After talking with friends, Torrey looked for a recovery program in Los Angeles and found The Midnight Mission. As Torrey stepped off the Greyhound, he thought he would get one last pack of cigarettes and beer. After three attempts, Torrey was unable to get either. He said God was doing for him what he could not do for himself.

When Torrey got to The Midnight Mission, it was late. He slept in the Courtyard for the night and waited for a case worker in the morning. It was the beginning of a new life. He entered TMM’s Recovery Program and learned to change his behaviors for a different lifestyle. Torrey got a 12-step mentor to help him work through the steps of recovery. He likes the person he is becoming through the steps.

Torrey aspires to be a motivational speaker. He wants to be of service wherever he can to help his fellows. He is determined to have a bright future by doing the next best thing.

Kevin Mitchell came to The Midnight Mission with a desire to get sober. He realized he couldn’t stop using on his own, and he needed help. The gift of desperation brought him through the doors of TMM.

Kevin’s first month was the hardest to get through. Living his life in the depths of addiction, he found it hard to trust other people. When a doctor gave him a medical diagnosis, he thought the physician was lying. Accepting the truth of this diagnosis was a turning point in Kevin’s recovery journey.

Kevin realized The Midnight Mission was offering more than sobriety. TMM was going to help him establish a new way of life. Through the recovery program, Kevin is learning how to live life morally and selflessly. He is working toward having a place of his own. One of the most significant rewards he has received is beyond monetary value; it is peace of mind.

Kevin has found purpose in helping others. He has a job and a loving relationship with his family. He said he knew the program was working when he realized he’d never been sober this long. Kevin has experienced profound changes in his perspective. He has gained the wisdom that he can learn and grow through failure. Kevin knows that acceptance is the answer today.

Today, Kevin has found a community of people and is connected. He wants to thank the staff at The Midnight Mission for inspiring him to get his life together. His heart is forever grateful, and he says there is no way he could pay back the priceless gift TMM has given him. To pay it forward, Kevin encourages others to learn about the program, but even more importantly, to put the program into action. He says if he can do it, anyone can!