“CitiWide helped me build a foundation for a new life.” JOHN
 IN 2005, I moved from Long Island to the Bronx to get services; my shelter referred me to CitiWide. It was the first place I came to, and I liked what I saw. CitiWide turned out to be all right: it was a new environment, with new people and the chance to talk to individuals in the same predicament as me. I got to know more about addiction, mental illness, and housing, which was what I needed the most. I joined the HOME program, and learned about HASA, SSD, and took the Life Skills classes. It took some time, but I eventually saw an apartment I liked; actually, I just moved.
This spring, CitiWide helped me again by hiring me in a peer position for outreach. It’s going really well so far. Working with people in the SROs gives me some perspective on where I came from. It also lets me show others how CitiWide has helped me. I know it sounds cheesy, but it makes me feel like a productive part of society.
I guess CitiWide helped me build a “foundation” for a new life. They helped me get a house, and helped me to get out of the house, to meet others, and to get my life in order. I’d say CitiWide brought me back to reality. Now I know there’s still life, hope, and a future.
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