Restoring hope at Harbor Light Center
When Eric Weston moved to Florida eight years ago, he was living the good life near the ocean, with steady work. He never expected that a series of personal setbacks would knock him off his feet.
“The next thing I knew, I was homeless. Never been homeless in my life, never even thought I could be there, ” Weston said (pictured).
After working his way back to Minnesota, Weston briefly stayed with different relatives before landing at The Salvation Army’s Harbor Light shelter in Minneapolis.
“I was devastated, I never dealt with the homeless before. But it was nothing like I thought it would be, I’m actually very blessed to be here,” he said.
That’s thanks to case managers Damien Polling (pictured) and Camille Case (pictured).
In the past year, they have moved more than 200 people out of our shelter and into permanent housing. They found housing for Weston within six weeks. A union painter by trade, he says he is well on his way to starting over.
“These two, when you step through this door, it’s magic. They make magic happen,” Weston said, visibly moved.
“It’s just fun, it’s not a job,” said Case.
But the people here know the truth. Case works tirelessly to advocate for her clients, with a passion that is distinctly personal.
“I’ve lived on the streets, I’ve been there, I know what it’s like to be homeless,” she explained.
Sober now for nine years, Case says she lost her nursing license due to alcoholism. Five years ago, The Salvation Army gave her a chance to reinvent herself as a housing advocate and now her mission is to pay it forward.
“Thank God for [the Army] giving me a chance. Now I can help give these guys a second chance,” she said.
Polling says that giving spirit is part of what drew him to The Salvation Army.
“When people move out, it’s like a celebration for us,” he said. Successes keep this team motivated, in the face of what can be a very daunting. “It fills me with joy. Not giddy happiness, but true joy.”
“They are the best. Even after I got my own place, they are still 100 percent supportive of me,” said Caesar Romero (pictured).
This 45-year-old former truck driver found himself homeless after injuries left him depressed and unable to work. After seven months of working with Case and Polling, he now has an apartment and is back on track.
“It means everything, now I can go forward,” Romero said.
It’s these success stories that dissuade Case from getting her nursing license back, even though it would be more lucrative.
“I don’t want it, even though it would pay me $60 to $70 an hour,” Case said. “I want this.”
And that is a blessing to Weston. “Thank God for them,” he said. “Thank God for The Salvation Army. They have given me every opportunity to do what I need to do. I mean really, what would I have done without them?”
Your donations help support these and other important Salvation Army programs. This program is in particular need of household donations to help men like these get started in their new lives. If you can help call Camille at 612-767-3100, ext 3187.