From Chaos to Peace: A Bridge Housing graduate shares his story

EECM continues to be featured "In the Spotlight" on the Heinz Endowments website. Yesterday's post shares the story of Aaron, a graduate of EECM's Bridge Housing Program.

Aaron is a graduate of EECM’s Bridge Housing program. Prior to participating in Bridge, Aaron spent six of the previous ten years in prison. Before that, he bounced in and out of hospitals, battling against schizoaffective disorder (which combines the paranoia and delusions of schizophrenia with the mania of bipolar) and alcohol and drug addiction.

“The biggest problem in my life has been a lack of consistency. My life was never stable. I lost my parents young and moved through the foster system when I was a teenager. I didn’t have any direction, so I followed the neighborhood guys into some bad choices.”

“I was arrested for a robbery when I was 21 and spent 5 years in jail. I got my head on straight in there. I got on medication and started seeing a therapist. I also worked at nurturing my spirit – I spent a lot of time praying.”

“When I got out in 2004, I really wanted to change my life. But I rushed into it and lost control. I stopped going to meetings. Stopped taking my medications. Before long, I had violated my parole and I was back in jail.”

“I was paroled again in 2006, and I had learned a lot from what I went through. My doctor didn’t want me to rush into working, but my welfare income wasn’t enough to live on.”

“I started EECM’s Bridge Housing program in September 2006. My time at Bridge allowed me to establish a foundation for my life. I went to meetings and got used to taking my medications regularly. It let me take a look at myself and what I wanted out of life.”

“The staff helped me build a support network. I became friends with other guys in EECM’s housing programs, and that helped me avoid falling back in with old friends and old ways.”

“Without EECM, I honestly don’t know where I would be. On the streets, maybe. Or in prison.”

After completing EECM’s Bridge Housing program, Aaron moved into his very first apartment. He also found the perfect job. He was hired by a human services organization to work as a Peer Specialist, providing support and life skills assistance to individuals with mental illness. He is someone for them to talk to, to turn to when they’re struggling.

Aaron says: “This is what I always wanted to do – I’m there when people need me.”