Greg
My name’s Greg, and I’m from Columbia, Missouri. I came to New Day Columbia after a string of losses. At first, I was going to stay with my aunt, but in about a month and a half, both my dad and my aunt passed away. That left me with nowhere to go. A friend picked me up and brought me here, and that’s pretty much how I ended up at New Day Columbia. I had planned to stay with her and keep applying for jobs until I could get back on my feet, but then she passed away too, and staying at the house no longer an option. I just had to move on.
When all this started, I was in shock. I’d never been in this situation before, and it just dawned on me how quickly it happened. I’d been working as a cook for 28 years. I kept asking for a break at work, but they never gave me time off. I hit a wall, my mental health crashed, and I just froze. I didn’t go back to that job, which left me jobless.
After leaving my job, I stayed with roommates for a bit, but we didn’t get along. They weren’t discreet or considerate, and eventually I just had to leave. I had some savings, so I wasn’t totally worried about money, but the situation became too much. That’s how I ended up fully without a home.
One thing I want people to understand is how easily homelessness can happen. Don’t quit your job rashly, even if it seems like you have a safety net. Things can go south fast, and it’s easy to lose hope. Luckily, I had a safe space here at New Day Columbia, and that made all the difference.
This experience has taught me a lot about misconceptions people have. Homeless folks aren’t only lazy drug addicts. It’s easy to feel discouraged, because progress is slow. I’ve been here since the beginning of March, almost a year now, and it feels like I haven’t accomplished as much as I wanted yet. Simple things, like getting clippers for grooming, are harder than people imagine. Technology is different now too, applying for jobs on a phone isn’t as easy as using a payphone back in the day.
If I had to describe myself in a few words, I’d say I’m laid back, a pacifist, and easygoing. I don’t like violence or negativity, and I get along with most people. More about me is that I enjoy video games and cooking for people. I love baking desserts, cheesecakes, in particular. It became my way to recharge from the restaurant grind. Seeing someone enjoy a cheesecake I made always makes me feel good, kind of like Willy Wonka.
I’m a lifelong resident of Columbia, and looking ahead, I hope to have a small place, maybe with roommates around me for support. I get depressed sometimes, and having people to check in on me really helps. At 53, I’ve outlasted the typical career span for a cook, and my body feels it. But I want to work steadily again, so I’m thinking of easing into something less physically demanding. In the end, what keeps me hopeful is seeing others overcome the challenges of homelessness. Watching people get back on their feet reminds me that it can be done, even if it takes longer than expected.
Renard
My name is Renard, and I’m from Detroit, Michigan. I ended up in Columbia because my grandmother used to stay here. I planned to stay with a cousin, but they unexpectedly moved the day I arrived, so I was stuck for about four months before I got my own place. Then another problem came up: I had come down here with a female friend, and after some bad things happened, she ended up taking everything I had. I lost my home and all I owned. That’s when I became homeless.
It was tough at first, but I’m a believer; I love Jesus to death. I believe that sometimes we’re put in these positions for a reason, and if you follow the Lord, He’ll help you and put you where you’re meant to be. I’ve learned that the timing of these things is perfect, even if it feels like it’s not. I don’t see myself as the definition of homeless; I just don’t have a home right now. I’m happy within myself, I love nature, and I’ve found a way to stay positive.
Winter is hard, but New Day Columbia has been amazing. Places like this make a huge difference because they give people a chance to rebuild. It gets lonely sometimes, but I know the Lord put me here so I could learn and grow. Before, there was too much noise in my life to understand why things were happening, but now I see that everything happens for a reason. Even when I’ve been stripped down to nothing, I’ve always had some way to get by; through prayer, through people, or through New Day Columbia.
I have no family or friends here. The people I consider family are the folks at New Day Columbia. That’s why I can’t stand when we fight among ourselves. We’re all in the same position, hurting each other only makes it worse and I believe karma is real.
Being homeless has actually brought me a strange sense of mental contentment. I feel free. I have more clarity now than I did when I had a home because I was so unhappy. I live by faith, not by sight, and I trust that there is a plan for me. I would say my character has changed a lot and I’m stronger now. I stopped letting feelings control me and started listening for God. That’s made all the difference.
I want people outside of this world to look beyond appearances. Many assume homeless people are lazy or dangerous, but that’s not true. We have talent; people who write, sing, draw. The world often only shows the negative, and that can crush people who aren’t strong in their will. I’ve seen people helping their neighbors, shoveling snow, cleaning up trash, and it goes unnoticed. We just need opportunities and support, like the kind New Day Columbia provides.
In the future, I hope to build community among the homeless and connect with those willing to put in the work; to show that responding with good, rather than negativity, is the way forward. I want people to know we aren’t the villains some portray us as and we’re just trying to survive and live with dignity. If the city continues to help and not blame us, more lives can be transformed. Giving people one more chance, one more opportunity, can make all the difference. That’s my faith. That’s my hope.
