Before I came to ACE, I was unemployed for more than ten years. During that time, I was caring for my mother while she was really sick. Taking care of my mother became an excuse for me to not work. In 2010, my mother passed away and my family fell apart. I had no way to pay my rent, and getting back in the job market was really difficult because I had been unemployed for so long. I got evicted and for five years I was living on the streets, in the ‘invisible society’—where no one looks at you or cares about you.

“In 2010, my mother passed away and my family fell apart.”

My outlook on the future was very bleak. I was medicating myself to cover up the fact that I was doing nothing. When you are homeless, it’s so dark, you just want to escape and the easiest way out is to use drugs. But that just makes things even darker. People fall into a vicious cycle and they think the drugs will make them happy. They end up looking for attention in all the wrong ways because they just want to be seen. The only way they can be seen is by causing some kind of trouble.

In those days, I was falling into an abyss and I knew I had to change something, so I surrendered to my higher power. It was right then, in 2015, that I saw a presentation about ACE and decided to give it a try. I also met my girlfriend right at that same time. We had a lot in common, but we were just friends at first. With a lot of hard work, things started falling into place.

“People fall into a vicious cycle and they think the drugs will make them happy.”

Being at ACE was great. I believe they saw an individual who had potential, and they were willing to give me the opportunity to prove myself. They have a combination of classes, work and support. The most important thing, though, is the trust that they put in me.

“When I was in the ‘invisible society’, I didn’t think I would ever find love again.”

The staff worked with me for months and sure enough I got hired as a sanitation worker. When it happened, I felt like I mattered again. Before, people would look down on me, like he’s homeless, he lives in a shelter. Not anymore. I have my confidence back. I know I am a valuable citizen of New York City.

I’ve been working full-time since November 2015. Me and my girlfriend have our own place in Staten Island and we have both been clean for five years. We have a lot of the same interests, we enjoy foreign movies, we read a lot, and we are just there for each other. When I was in the ‘invisible society’, I didn’t think I would ever find love again. Now, I just bought an engagement ring and in 90 days I’m going to propose. I remember discussing my girlfriend with my ACE counselor 3 years ago. I wasn’t even ready to ask her on a date. Now, I am going to be getting married.

There are more hard working men and women like Lawrence making their comeback right now. Make a gift today, and take part in their incredible journey to economic self-sufficiency.