Eddie arrived at The Fortune Society over a year ago. After leaving Rikers Island, the bus dropped him off just down the block from our Long Island City service center. While incarcerated, Eddie heard about Fortune’s various programs and services, and he planned to take advantage of these services upon his release.
After leaving Rikers, Eddie stayed at a men’s shelter, where he struggled to adjust to the environment and quickly became overwhelmed from constantly looking out for his health and safety. Fortunately, three weeks after his release, Eddie received a call from a Fortune Housing Specialist about an open room at our Freedom House in the Bronx.
Freedom House provides emergency housing for individuals living in shelters or otherwise living in shelters after release. Residents also receive access to Fortune’s full array of services, including mental health, substance use treatment, and case management.
“They help me with so much more than just housing, and my transition was smooth because of it,” Eddie said. “They helped me access public benefits like food stamps. I have child support issues, and they pointed me in the right direction with getting connected with lawyers, and they helped me fill out paperwork.”
Further contributing to this smooth transition, Eddie’s Freedom House apartment was fully furnished upon arrival, including bed sheets, pillows, toiletries and other necessities. Having everything there for him relieved some of Eddie’s stress coming home.
Eddie’s apartment at Freedom House Bronx is a shared unit with one roommate. They each have a bedroom and share a kitchen and bathroom. While incarcerated, Eddie struggled to adjust to no longer living an independent life as he was previously used to. Now, he is grateful to have a place where he feels comfortable and safe.
Photos: Our staff hosted a barbecue at our Freedom House in the Bronx this summer. The Freedom House residents enjoyed gathering together for food, music and good fun.
“I don’t mind having to share my space. Before this, I was living with 56 men, so to be in a room with a single person is a lot easier. I would rather be myself, but I know I have to go through the steps to get back to my life.”
Finding housing quickly after his release allowed Eddie the opportunity to prioritize healing after incarceration. Since connecting with Fortune, he has focused on enhancing his professional skills with Employment Services and has, for the first time in his life, attended counseling sessions at the Better Living Center (BLC).
Now, Fortune Housing Specialists are assisting Eddie as he searches for his own apartment. So far, they have helped him fill out applications and offered guidance as he begins his transition from Freedom House to his own apartment. Reflecting on his year at Fortune, Eddie expressed his sincere gratitude for the opportunities that the organization has offered him.
“I’m here so I can do everything that’s at my disposal and so that I can better myself. At Fortune, I found housing, mental health treatment, drug rehabilitation and so much more. I’ve learned so much about myself, and I feel inspired. I learned that my situation was not the end of the world, and I still have a chance to make it.”