Do you remember Michael -- a homeless man with roots from the Louisiana Bayou? We helped Michael gets off the streets back in April and he recently called to ask that I pay him a visit in person, which I did.
Sometimes I may have a concern when I get these phone calls thinking that something has run a muck; but, Michael had nothing but good news to share with me this past Friday.
I would still say Michael is in a recovery phase since his state of homelessness is not too distant of a recent memory. After sitting down with Michael at his new residence you can see in his billowing spirit there has been a dramatic turn around for him in a positive direction.
As a proponent of the "housing first" philosophy, the best therapy for homeless recovery is not being homeless and having a stable roof over your head. As redundant as this may sound, an environment of normalcy and stability is the precursor to not only reclaim a former life but liberate oneself from other transgression that may very well keep someone on the streets living in a homeless camp.
Now that Michael is off the streets most of his problems have diminished or gone away -- and, so a new direction also delivers a renewed momentum in that new direction.
After our meeting Friday Michael was ready to deliver the news that he is anxious to help others that are homeless and return the help in the same way he received help to get off the streets. Michael's notice of paying back a perceived indebtedness only proves to me helping just one person is more a dilated dynamic of reciprocal interaction between people than it is singular and fleeting .
This is Michael's video covering the day he left his homeless camp and moved into a stable residence back in April of this year. Keep up the great work Michael you have proven many dissenters wrong.
Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Homeless Initiative
District III Office: (813) 247-0330
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs
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