In My Shoes
“A person experiencing homeless could be your neighbor, your coworker, or your friend.”
After Manny left the military, he moved to Southern Nevada and became homeless shortly thereafter. Living out of his car, he worked numerous temporary positions until finding a well-paying job in the construction industry. But when the economy crashed in 2008 and no new homes were being built, he was out of work once again.
Manny began visiting St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church to receive meals through their Friends in the Desert Foundation. He started volunteering for the organization and quickly gained a reputation as an honest person with a strong work ethic. Before long he was offered a job – something he is grateful for and has no plan to leave.
When asked how the community could help with the issue of homelessness, Manny replied, “People need to care enough to get involved one-on-one. A person experiencing homeless could be your neighbor, your coworker, or your friend.”
Manny currently shares a home with a friend. In addition to working at Friends in the Desert Foundation, he does odd jobs to make extra money and also continues to volunteer frequently. Manny appreciates how, through hard work and perseverance, he has improved his life while helping others.
