“My journey back began at a shelter in Texas…”

Before I went to live in a shelter in Dallas in late 2023, a Central Texas psychiatric hospital treated me for extreme depression. For two weeks, I attended meetings to deal with depression and took medications that made me sleepy. We were locked in the facility with no phones or any other electronic devices, but we could make two calls a day and received three meals daily.

I like being by myself, so having a roommate during that time was hard. Being around different people takes me out of my element. Still, I had to open up and learn how to talk to people. I was forced to talk to my roommate at the hospital to learn how to communicate effectively, like when to take showers. I went to classes to open up about my situation and to deal with it properly.

After a little more than two weeks, the doctor decided I was ready to be discharged, but I had no place to go. The hospital finally found a place at The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center in downtown Dallas. I had never heard of it and, of course, had never been in a shelter. I was apprehensive and did not want to leave the psychiatric hospital. So, I convinced the doctor to let me stay a few more days.

I finally left the hospital early on a December morning in 2023. Discharge time was 5am, so I had to get up earlier to pack. I got into the van and was on my way to yet another unknown situation in my life. The trip took about three hours, so I had a great deal of time to think and prepare myself for the next chapter. I knew that I had the referral from the psychiatric hospital, but things can get lost in translation.

I arrived at the shelter at about 8:30am. The driver just dropped me off and left. There I was, at the front door with no idea what to do, or even if I could get in. I had never been so scared in my life. I had no idea what to expect.

But when I got there, the people were very nice to me. They got me into intake and fed me breakfast. They got me onto the overflow list for that first night, which meant sleeping on the floor with other people. That also made me nervous.

The next day, they got us up at 5am and I got a caseworker and a mat. I had that mat for seven months until I got my own bed. I felt blessed to have a place to stay and eat meals, and that I wasn’t on the streets.

My caseworker got me a guaranteed place to stay. I was very excited to have my own place to sleep and a locker to put my belongings in. I still had to get up at 5am every day, but I had meals, a place to sleep, and a caseworker—as long as I obeyed the rules.

The next step was getting on the housing list, which meant getting my driver’s license, Social Security card, and birth certificate in order. Fortunately, I had all but a birth certificate. The Stewpot, an organization in Dallas, helped me to get it for free.

I took advantage of The Bridge’s free health and psychiatric services. Going to the Parkland Hospital clinic there helped me when I was feeling physically sick. Also, I saw counselors and doctors through MetroCare Services. All of these were available to me while staying at The Bridge, as long as I obeyed the shelter’s rules.

Eventually, I moved upstairs and got my own real bed, more space, and more freedom. No more having to get up at 5am.

I experienced ups and downs at the shelter, including having electronic and personal items stolen from me. That made me really depressed, but I learned to be patient and understanding in different situations.

When my electronics and personal items were stolen, it took a great deal of time to roll back the cameras and to find out what happened. I learned that not every security guard is helpful when you really need them. By the time they did see that my items were stolen, the thieves had already left The Bridge. After that, I learned to be more aware of my surroundings and not take anything for granted.

Now, I’ve arrived at the final leg of my journey. I am only waiting for my housing to come through. After 17 months at the shelter, I have learned to be more patient and follow through with day-to-day living.

My depression is well-managed now, which will help me to become independent again and live on my own. This experience has been jarring and humbling, but I am ready for the next chapter. I am very thankful for the opportunity to move forward. Hopefully, down the line, I can help someone else.