The Power of Resiliency

​Tony came to AFC’s programs, like many, after a series of bad breaks. His long-term rental in Aptos ended after the landlord’s family decided they wanted the property for personal use, despite Tony’s hard work in keeping up the property and caring for his aging landlord. This wasn’t the first time Tony had fallen on hard times, and he had developed a resiliency that would see him through. 

Growing up in Brooklyn, Tony found himself in trouble as a young adult. A series of crimes and ongoing substance use made him realize he needed to make a change. He moved across the county to California to get a fresh start, living with family and entering substance use treatment. After a couple of tries, he got clean, and began building his new life.

He found well-paying work and started a family. Life was trending in the right direction. He maintained his sobriety for 11 years, until an accident at work. While working as a window installer, he broke his back. At the time, doctors were overprescribing opiates, so he was given powerful narcotics while his back healed. The prescription drugs led him to relapse, and eventually lose his job. His life began to spiral. His wife had also relapsed, and their relationship fractured. At a low point, the drug use and relational conflict landed him back in jail. 

When he got out, he was determined to rebuild his life again. After bouncing around between family members, he made the move to Santa Cruz, where he lived with a friend and found work. He began washing dishes at a local bakery. When the owners saw his work ethic, they quickly promoted him to baker. Office neighbors also saw how hard he worked, and soon offered him jobs as well. After living in an RV for a short period, he was awarded a housing voucher, which would allow him to move into permanent housing.

His housing search was long, but ended when he visited a property in Aptos. When he arrived for a walkthrough, the landlord was in the middle of repairs. Tony shared the ways in which he could help, and he was approved on the spot. Over time, he and the landlord became good friends. They shared meals together, and, as the landlord aged, Tony began helping him with day-to-day activities. 

Tony recalls the impact that time had on him. “[The landlord] trusted me, a criminal from New York, so much. I didn’t want to disappoint him.” Tony didn’t. He lived up to expectations, and proved to be a faithful friend and caregiver. Unfortunately, his landlord’s family didn’t share that trust, and when they saw the arrangement, they kicked Tony out of the rental, saying they were going to use it personally. 

This led Tony to AFC. He initially found himself sleeping in his vehicle, and entered Safe Spaces, our safe parking program. Once a shelter bed opened up, he joined the Faith Community Shelter. He remembers feeling like the odd one out at first, but he quickly settled in. “I saw everyone respect each other,” he recalls. That mutual respect put him at ease. 

Tony brought his work ethic into the shelter, going above and beyond to care for the congregations that hosted. He also brought that work ethic to his housing search. With the help of staff and a local housing advocate, he applied to dozens of rentals. While the process was taxing, he remembers how helpful shelter staff was. “No one ever gave up.  They just kept looking. They just kept encouraging me.” 

Eventually, Tony’s hard work paid off. In a meeting with shelter staff, they called a rental in Pacific Grove, just blocks from the ocean. The unit was still available, and they put in an application right away. Tony advocated for himself with the property managers, sharing how reliable and hardworking he was. After a few tense days of waiting, his application was approved. After receiving deposit assistance from Santa Cruz County, he was able to move in.

The move allowed him to be reunited with his son, a Marine veteran, who moved in with him, along with the family dog, Athena. Not surprisingly, the neighbors and the property managers grew to quickly appreciate Tony’s friendly and helpful demeanor. While life isn’t perfect, it’s once again stable for Tony, thanks to a little support from others, and his own hard won resiliency.