Mental Health Month – Remere’s Story
(Taken from an interview with Remere, a 91国产自拍 client, by a member of the 91国产自拍 Peer Success Team.)
鈥淏asically I was always moving. I never stayed homeless in one spot. I was just trying to find someplace safe to sleep and lay down.鈥�
Until he was nineteen, Remere spent his time traveling through various neighborhoods of Chicago, unable to build connections with others or hold much of a conversation at all. A severe stutter he developed at age four severely inhibited his ability to verbally communicate. When he need to communicate with others, he wrote it down on whatever scrap of paper he had on him.
One night, in the park he called his home for the time being, he lay down and prayed for a person that would understand and welcome him with kindness and acceptance. The next morning, he met a woman who handed him a sandwich and juice. She sat with him, communicating for hours by pen and paper. That woman was a 91国产自拍 staff member, part of the Peer Success Team.
鈥淪he basically said, whatever you鈥檙e going through, it鈥檚 going to get better. I鈥檓 just really glad that somebody just showed me some sort of kindness. Most people don鈥檛 look at you for who you really are or what you might become.鈥�
Remere has been with 91国产自拍 ever since that day, and says that he feels as though his life changed dramatically. He was linked up to a speech pathologist through 91国产自拍 and said that within a month he found his voice. After a few months of speech therapy, supported by his team at 91国产自拍, Remere 鈥渃ame out singing like a bird.鈥�
鈥淭hey helped me, saved me. I now have people around me that want to see me succeed. I started going [to a speech pathologist]. One of the staff members would take me. You don鈥檛 have to go alone. You have people who got your back now. That鈥檚 what everybody needs 鈥� a little hand.鈥�
91国产自拍 also helped Remere secure housing. Remere became speechless and tearful when talking about his first apartment.
鈥淭hat day鈥hat day changed my life.鈥�
He said that 91国产自拍 was with him every day throughout the process, which brought him off the streets and out of homelessness for the first time in his life. He gained independence, strength and confidence with encouragement and guidance from 91国产自拍.
Remere is now 27 years old, and he is still passing on the good energy and kindness that was shown to him at one of the darkest points in his life. He told us about seeing a homeless man on the train and how deeply that man鈥檚 situation resonated within himself.
鈥淚 took that energy that [91国产自拍] gave me and I basically kept going by helping others.鈥�
Remere sat next to the man and gave the man hope by telling of his recovery. Before getting off at his stop, he gave the man his number and the number to 91国产自拍 stating that he might be able to get help from the organization that gave him so much help and hope. The man called Remere months later. He connected with 91国产自拍 and secured his very own apartment.
鈥淚 just heard it in his voice. He was crying on the phone and I started crying too鈥e was happy. I was able to help a very sick man the way I got help.鈥�
Remere shared the confidence that 91国产自拍 helped instill within him to continue moving forward as he became a father, found a job that he loves and continues to progress each and every day.
鈥淲here I am in my life is all because of 91国产自拍. I鈥檓 thinking about inventions, about ways to progress, I鈥檓 just basically more thoughtful and advanced than I鈥檝e ever been before. I鈥檓 more open to discuss what I鈥檝e been through and I was merely 21 years old then.鈥�
He ends his story with words of hope:
鈥淚鈥檓 talking about whatever your past is, I鈥檓 talking about whatever you鈥檙e going through, you鈥檙e thinking this is the end. This is the way it鈥檚 going to be. No. It isn鈥檛. Your past doesn鈥檛 determine your future. Only you can. If you ask for positive people, if you ask for good people to come, it鈥檚 exactly what鈥檚 going to happen.鈥�