Randy’s Journey So Far: 7/30/26

Randy has made remarkable progress through mentorship. When I first met him, he was drinking so heavily that he could barely sit upright or remain aware of what was happening around him. Today, he drinks only a couple of beers a day and is alert, engaged, and aware of both his surroundings and his situation.

He has gone from leaving messes behind to cleaning up after himself and encouraging others around him to do the same. He has gone from struggling to keep himself clean to staying clean, shaved, and presentable. Most importantly, he is no longer hidden inside an alcoholic fog. He is back in the real world with us, but that also means he is now fully aware of the painful reality of living on the street.

Randy is exhausted. He often tells me that he does not know how much longer he can keep doing this. Living outside means constant heat, dehydration, sleep deprivation, malnutrition, and the physical pain of sitting or lying on concrete day after day.

He has an appointment with Social Security in early September, where we hope he can begin receiving early retirement benefits and continue moving his disability claim forward. In the meantime, he is looking for a volunteer opportunity or possibly a small part-time job in the Oakbrook area of Sumerville where he can sit down, get out of the heat, be useful, and have somewhere meaningful to be during the day.

Randy has become a very good friend of mine. We have worked through many trust-building exercises, and he has passed every one. He is a genuinely good man. Whatever difficult choices he may have made in the past to survive, he has never lost his compassion for others. He looks out for the people around him and often puts their needs before his own.

Once he is safely housed, Randy hopes to become a mentor and help others who are living through the same struggles he has faced.

He is so close, and he has already come so far.

I am incredibly proud of him, more than I can put into words!